Common Vestibular Disorders - I - ECAB

Book excerpt: Common vestibular disorders presenting with vertigo contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. The challenge is to identify the underlying cause of dizziness so as to streamline the treatment and improve quality of life. In day-to-day ENT practice, incidence of dizziness is reported to be 10–15%. It is often associated with a range of otological, neurological and psychiatric disorders. There are fewer subjects in medicine which keep us more confused than vertigo. Dizziness and vertigo may be disturbing and incapacitating causing problems to people doing regular or specialized tasks such as driving, operating heavy machinery or flying. As the sensations are hard to describe, patients often use the words "dizziness" and "Vertigo" interchangeably and inconsistently. Patients with the same underlying disorder might describe the symptoms very differently and might also differently describe the same "dizzy" event depending upon how the question is directed. The aim of this book is to explore the experience and learning of some of the eminent medical professionals, develop relevant updates, and make them easily available for utilization by the Indian clinical practitioners.