Cases of vertigo in pediatric patients with vertigo are few as compared with that in adults. Additionally, obtaining information from pediatric patients is challenging, making diagnosis difficult. In this study, we clinically examined children with vertigo in community supported otolaryngology hospitals. We categorized children as infants (1–5 years) and school children (6–15 years) and assessed differences in the disease between the two groups. In all the children, we observed significant orthostatic dysregulation, vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal vertigo, and vestibular migraine. In the infants group, while vestibular neuritis was most commonly diagnosed, other disorders, such as congenital nystagmus, dissociative movement disorder, central brain tumor, cerebral tumor after head trauma, and vertigo, were also reported. In the school children group, we observed increased incidences of dizziness similar to that in adults, such as Ménière’s disease, and migraine-related vertigo; moreover, we often observed increased frequency of orthostatic dysregulation.
Pediatric patients with vertigo, especially school children, might often refuse to attend schools because of increased anxiety about dizziness attacks. In addition, vestibular disorders or migraine have been shown to play a causative role in some cases. Thus, psychiatric and psychosomatic approaches should be considered in medical treatment.
View full abstract