Clinical Analysis of Childhood Vertigo / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Vertigo and dizziness are not common complaints in childhood, but are present more often than formerly thought. A detailed interview and otoneurological examination are important for reaching a specific diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of our study was to obtain our own etiological, clinical and diagnostic statistics, and to review the major related pathologies. METHODS: We investigated eighty-five children who visited Dankook University Hospital with a chief complaint of vertigo. Presenting symptoms, the result of diagnostic tests, and etiologic diagnoses were evaluated. RESULTS: Benign paroxysmal vertigo in childhood was the most common etiology of childhood vertigo accounting for about 38.8%, and migrainous vertigo and post-traumatic vertigo were present in 17.6% and 12.9% respectively. In vestibular function testings, electronystagmography and rotating chair test were abnormal in 11.2% and 21.2%, and the score of sensory organization test in posturography was lower than 50 in 44.4%. Other clinical diagnostic tests were informative for elucidation of individual etiologies. CONCLUSION: Benign paroxysmal vertigo in childhood and migrainous vertigo were the most common etiologies in childhood vertigo, with the former more common in under 12 years and the latter more common in over 12 years. Vestibular function tests were not so informative in diagnostic approach of childhood vertigo.