About B. Todd Troost, MD Expertise vertigo, benign positional vertigo, BPPV, and related ailments.
Experience
Past/Present clients More than 2000 patients with vertigo.
Chairman of Neurology Department for 18 years and examiner for American Board of Neurology for over 25 years. Extensive information is provided on my commericial free website at www.ivertigo.net
Expert: B. Todd Troost, MD Date: 2/20/2004 Subject: dizzy child
Question Hi,
After searching the Internet for about 3 hours I finally came upon your website. My son is almost 7 years old. His birthday is 3/20.97. In November right after Thanksgiving he got a very bad cold and an ear infection. He was put on Amoxil. His ear infection cleared up but he had alot of congestion at the time,the doctor heard it in his chest at this point he started complaining of being dizzy. The Dr. said it was probably due to the congestion in his chest and put him on albuterol inhaler and predicort inhaler. She also did a nebulizer treatment. By Dec. 20th he was perfect. It took about a month but the dizziness went away. On Jan. 10th , My son got sick again. Another bad ear infection, Another bad cold. He was put again on Amoxil 400 Mg 2 1/2 tsp 2Xa day. ( He is 50 inches and 80 lbs) The ears cleared up , but he is still dizzy. Sometimes it is 5 times a day , somtimes it is 25 times a day. He still can function, He plays, he doesn't stop what he is doing... He just "gets dizzy". It has been over a month now. I have brought him to the pediatrician about 10 times this month. She basically told me to stop worrying. But my son is still dizzy. She did a urine test and an EKG both tests were perfect. I brought him to a ENt dr. yesterday. They did a hearing test and an exam and said his ears were perfect. We brought him to a pediatric neurologist today. He said my son looked perfect on the exam but has ordered more tests. ( A blood test, an EEG, and an MRI of the brain) Are these the right tests? Do you have any ideas what could be causing this dizziness? I'm afraid of MS and any type of brain disorders. Would those have other symptoms also. My son is overweight and has been on a diet for 3 weeks. Tomorrow starts him 4th week. He has lost 5 lbs so far. His blood pressure was at 122 0ver 80 and one point but the pediatrician said not to worry, she said the blood pressure is weight related. Do you agree with this? Please write back, I would appreciate any help you can give me, I am desperate with worry
The only thing I forgot to tell you is that my son is congested. He has been for about the past 4 weeks along with the dizziness...
Gina
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Answer Dear Gina:
I see now that you have done what I advised regarding the way to ask questions.
It sounds as though there are multiple attacks of dizziness up to 25/day which suggest BPPV ( benign positional paroxysmal vertigo ). Usually the exam and all the tests are negative. The key in the diagnosis is the history: multiple little attacks of dizziness esp. provoked by head movement or occuring as one turns over in bed.
The cure is a perticular type of exercise therapy. Medication does nothing. To find out about the simple curative exercises go to: http://ivertigo.net/bdexercsies.html
I would do that for 2-4 weeks and if no clear improvement see an ENT audiologist who can perform the Epley Maneuver.
