Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in 2 Children: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of vertigo in adults, but its occurrence in children is considered rare.
• Vertigo in pediatric patients can be attributed to various causes, including migraines, necessitating a thorough differential diagnosis.

Observation:

• Two pediatric patients, aged 11 and 9 years, presented with vertigo triggered by changes in head position.
• Both patients exhibited characteristic nystagmus during the Dix-Hallpike (DH) test, confirming the diagnosis of BPPV.
• Symptoms were reproduced upon positional testing, further supporting the diagnosis.

Findings:

• Successful treatment with a canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM) was achieved in both cases.
• Following CRM, patients reported a reduced incidence of positional vertigo.
• One patient showed improvement in scores on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Visual Analog Scale for Dizziness (VAD) post-treatment.

Implications:

• The Dix-Hallpike (DH) test is a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying BPPV in children presenting with vertigo.
• Clinicians should consider screening children with vertigo for BPPV using history and the DH test.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric BPPV can lead to significant symptom improvement and reduced impact on quality of life.