Vertigo in children

[You will learn about symptoms of vertigo in children. You will learn about treatment for vertigo in children.]
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Dizziness in children is not uncommon. One survey found that “More than 1 in 20 (nearly 3.3 million) children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a dizziness or balance problem.” (National Institutes of Health, 2016).

(Infographic - https://infograph.venngage.com/p/276530/vertigo-in-children-from-nih-study)

Vertigo in children can be difficult to diagnose. Children may not complain or they may not know how to explain their symptoms.

Symptoms

Children may explain dizziness like “‘a Cup & Saucer ride in an amusement park.’” (Kaga, 2014, p. 57). They may be able to draw what their symptoms feel like. They may say they feel unsteady or weak, or they may look pale. They may say they feel like vomiting, and may have a headache. (Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

Children can have symptoms for varying time. They may last for a short period of time, and they may disappear for a while.

Many things can cause vertigo in children. For example, infections like meningitis can cause vertigo. Some children who have migraine vertigo. It can also be caused by head trauma or injury. Your child’s doctor will help to determine the cause of vertigo.

(Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

The appointment

The doctor will ask your child to explain what they are feeling. You can also tell the doctor what you have observed. The doctor will perform a physical and may ask to do additional testing. Additional testing might include imaging, like a CT scan. It may also include the doctor observing your child walking. The doctor will also look at your child’s eyes and ears. The doctor may do tests where they move your child’s head or body position.

(Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

You can read more about tests the doctor might do here:

• Pediatric vestibular disorders - assessment (Vestibular Disorders Association, 2016).

Treatment

Treatment for children is similar to treatment for adults. Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the cause of vertigo, and how severe it is.

Treatment might include medication and physical therapy, and sometimes surgery. The doctor might prescribe medication for times when your child has symptoms. If vertigo is caused by an infection, the doctor might prescribe medication for longer-term use. When vertigo happens, your child may need to stop and rest.

Sometimes vertigo can be triggered by food. Caffeine, chocolate, and some cheese, may cause or worsen symptoms. You can discuss food triggers with your doctor.

(Child Neurology Foundation, 2017)

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References

Child Neurology Foundation. (2017). Vertigo. Disorder directory: learn from the experts. Retrieved on June 5, 2017, from http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org/disorders/vertigo/.

Kaga, K. (2014). Vertigo and Balance Disorders in Children [electronic book]. Modern Otology and Neurotology. Tokyo, Japan: Springer.

National Institutes of Health. (2016, January 27). More than 1 in 20 U.S. children have dizziness and balance problems. Retrieved on June 7, 2017, from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/2016/more-1-20-us-children-have-dizziness-and-balance-problems.

Vestibular Disorders Association. (n.d.). Pediatric vestibular disorders. Retrieved on June 6, 2017, from http://vestibular.org/pediatric-vestibular-disorders.

Vestibular Disorders Association. (2016). Part II - Pediatric vestibular disorders. Retrieved on June 6, 2017, from http://vestibular.org/sites/default/files/page_files/Documents/Pediatric%20Part%20II_Assessment.pdf.