Vertigo

Vertigo is a subtype of dizziness, which results from an imbalance within t he vestibular system. This seminar focuses on three common presentations of vertigo: prolonged spontaneous vertigo, recurrent attacks of vertigo, and positional vertigo. The patient's history is usually the key to differentia tion of peripheral and central causes of vertigo. The most common cause of vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, can be cured with a simple p ositional manoeuvre. Other common causes of vertigo include vestibular neur itis, Meniere's syndrome, migraine, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency, Trea tment should be directed at the underlying cause whenever possible, but ant ivertiginous and antiemetic drugs can suppress symptoms when a specific cau se cannot be found. These drugs are generally not indicated for long-term d aily use, however, since they may interfere with the normal compensation pr ocess.