Neurológia pre prax 3/2017

Episodic dizziness and vertigo

Episodic dizziness/vertigo or episodic vestibular syndrome is characterized by recurrent attacks of dizziness/vertigo with a duration of several seconds, minutes, or even hours, with periods of remission. It is a common problem in patients. Episodic dizziness/vertigo can occur due to a variety of causes, including vestibular or primarily nonvestibular, peripheral or central, benign as well as life-threatening ones. Patients usually present in a period between the attacks; therefore, the correct diagnosis is based on a thorough history with an emphasis on temporal characteristics of the dizziness/vertigo, the presence of precipitating causes and associated nonvestibular symptoms. The differential diagnosis is broad.

Keywords: episodic dizziness, episodic vertigo, episodic vestibular syndrome, differential diagnosis