Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood

Abstract

SUMMARYSeventeen children with benign paroxysmal vertigo have been described. The clinical features consist of the onset of recurrent, very brief attacks of vertigo in a child less than 3 years old, with full preservation of awareness and speech during each attack and a tendency to spontaneous disappearance of attacks over a period of several months to several years. The results of vestibular function tests in the subjects and in 14 control children of the same age group are presented and discussed. The narrow range of normal variation and the ease with which the diagnosis of BPV can be confirmed by the use of Hallpike caloric tests are emphasized. The differential diagnosis of BPV and similar paroxysmal disorders is reviewed. Our impression of the favorable results of treatment with dimenhydrinate in children having frequent attacks is recorded.