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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
Published on: January 29, 2011
Carbon monoxide poisoning: an unusual cause of dizziness
1Department of Otolaryngology, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK. drlakhani@doctors.net.uk
Objective:
We report an unusual case of dizziness caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Case Report:
A 55-year-old man was referred to an ENT surgeon with dizziness. The patient described vague, non-specific symptoms not consistent with a diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis or Ménière's disease. It emerged later that the patient had been suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning from a leaky gas hot water boiler in his house. After having the boiler fixed, the patient's symptoms completely resolved.
Conclusion:
When the more common causes of dizziness cannot be found, less common but important differential diagnoses, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, should be considered.
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