[Management of vertigo]

Abstract

Introduction: Dizziness is a non specific and incapacitating symptom. Its classification is based on the patient complaints and categorized in pre-syncope, disequilibrium, lightheadness and vertigo. Vertigo is the most prevalent cause of dizziness. This article pretends to review the management of vertigo, its causes, differential diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: The articles used in this review were obtained from a Medline search with the keywords vertigo and dizziness, from publications from the past 5 years in the English, Spanish and Portuguese languages.

Discussion: Vertigo is the most prevalent cause of dizziness in primary care. It is caused by an asymmetric involvement in the basal activity of the central and peripheric vestibular pathways. It occurs in episodes and the intensity of this symptom diminishes as the causative factor dissipates or compensation occurs. The clinical evaluation is bases on the clinical history and physical examination. The first step in the differential diagnosis is to differentiate central vertigo from peripheral vertigo. Knowing the duration of symptoms, precipitating factors and associated symptoms and performing the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre is important in achieving this. The treatment of vertigo must be specific and oriented to the cause, and the use of symptomatic therapy must be reserved to the acute episodes. The definite treatment are rehabilitation exercises.