The spinning world- overview of vertigo

Vertigo is condition which can have a number of reasons including the vestibular (inner ear) , cervical, or organic causes.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is an illusion of movement. A person suffering from vertigo often complaints of dizziness and spinning sensation. Vertigo is sometimes considered as a symptom of an underlying condition.

Symptoms:
Spinning of the surrounding or sensation of falling
Abnormal eye movements or nystagmus

Tinitus( ringing ears) or congestion in ears
Nausea
Disorientation
Headache
Double or blurred vision
Loss of balance are some of the common symptoms seen in patients with vertigo. However not everyone suffering from vertigo show all of the above symptoms.

Causes:
The  known causes of vertigo are:
Vestibular neuritis : infection of the inner ear.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): displacement of crystals in the semicircular canals of the ear.
Migraine associated vertigo(MAV)
Menieres disease: increased inner ear pressure.
Other then these vertigo is also seen in patients with headinjury, cancer,Drug abuse ,Multiple sceloris, however the evidence is low.

Diagnosis
A set of tests including blood and balance test are advised to rule out the cause of vertigo. Other then these other major tests like videonystamography(VNG), and  video head impulse test( VHIT) are also performed.

 Treatment:
Medications to reduce inner ear infection if any and to control the dizziness.
Repositioning of the inner ear crystals in BPPV using different manuevers.
Vestibular and balance rehabilitation.
 


                                      Dr. Pranjal Kankariya