Dizziness in children

Question 1

Facts

Answer 1

• Not a common symptom in children.

• Vertigo can have sinister causes and requires
referral because of the possibility of tumours, such
as a medulloblastoma.

Question 2

Commonest causes

Answer 2

1) a seizure focus particularly affecting the temporal
lobe.
2) psychosomatic vertigo
3) vestibular migraine
4) vestibular neuritis

Question 3

Important other causes to consider

Answer 3

1) infection (e.g. meningitis, meningoencephalitis,
cerebral abscess)
2) trauma, especially to the temporal area
3) middle-ear infection
4) labyrinthitis (e.g. mumps, measles, influenza)
5) BPPV (short-lived attacks of vertigo in young
children between 1 and 4 years of age: tends to
precede adulthood migraine)
6) hyperventilation
7) drugs—prescribed
8) illicit drugs (e.g. cocaine, marijuana)
9) cardiac arrhythmias
10) a common trap is the acute effect
of alcohol in curious children who can present with
the sudden onset of dizziness