Spatial disorientation may be expressed by the patient as dizziness, vertigo or feeling ‘light-headed’. True vertigo is not experienced as a sensation of movement but as tilting or sloping of the environment. The causes above are listed according to speed of onset and duration of symptoms. Conditions that are accompanied by additional audiological symptoms, such as tinnitus, are marked with an asterisk. Causes of dizziness that are precipitated by movements of the head include BPPV, labyrinthitis and head injuries. Patients with BPPV complain of short episodes of dizziness accompanying changes in the position of the head. Labyrinthitis may result either as a complication of systemic viral infection or from extension of a cholesteatoma due to chronic suppurative otitis media. A history of trauma is usually obvious. Postural dizziness precipitated by rising from a lying position may be caused by orthostatic hypotension commonly secondary to antihypertensive drugs.
Dizziness
History
General
Precipitating factors
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