Clinical and diagnostic approach to patient with vertigo and dizziness

Abstract

Diagnosis of vertigo and dizziness is a difficult challenge in various fields of medicine practice. In the article the diagnostic algorithm for the patient with dizziness and vertigo is presented. The main signs and symptoms (vertigo, nonspecific dizziness, disequilibrium, and presyncope), which are included in the subjective feeling of dizziness are analyzed. Possible diseases, accompanied with these symptoms, their clinical and instrumental evaluation are discussed. Special aspects of the complaints in peripheral vestibular disorders (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, bilateral; vestibulopathy, etc.), central vestibular disorders (stroke, etc.), functional dizziness are overviewed and main principals of their treatment are presented.