Vertigo in Children

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/vertigo-in-children  

Vertigo in Children

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Vertigo (VER ti go) is the medical word for the feeling of spinning. Your child may feel like the world is moving, but there is no movement. These feelings come and go. They may last for seconds or for days. Your child may feel worse when changing positions, standing, rolling over, coughing, or sneezing. Vertigo can be caused by a problem inside the ear.

Vertigo is not contagious. You cannot get it from another person or give it to someone else.

Signs and Symptoms

You may see your child do some of the following:

Jerky eye movements

Tilting of the head

Swaying

Trouble walking straight

Pulling to one direction

Rocking

Falling

Your child may feel some of the following:

Spinning feeling

Dizziness

Nausea

Motion sickness

Headache

Sensitivity to light and noise

Ringing in the ears

Ear pain or fullness or pressure in the ears

Hearing loss

Sweating

Diagnosis

There is no specific test for diagnosing vertigo. The tests that the doctor will do will depend on your child's signs and symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment for vertigo depends upon what is causing it. Most often, vertigo goes away without treatment. This is because the brain is able to adjust to changes in the inner ear.

Treatment may include:

Physical Therapy exercises to improve balance. The physical therapist may teach your child special head and body movements

Medicine to relieve symptoms of nausea and motion sickness.

Antibiotic medicine to treat inner ear infections.

Steroid medicine to decrease swelling.

Water pills to reduce the amount of fluid in the inner ear.

When to Get Emergency Care

Sudden change in speech

Sudden change in vision

Head injury from a fall

Repeat episodes of falling

Continued vomiting

When to Call the Doctor

If your child falls a lot

If your child faints

If the symptoms of vertigo keep your child from doing everyday activities

If you have any questions about vertigo

Harm Prevention and Symptom Control

To avoid getting hurt during an episode of vertigo, your child should not drive or use machines. Activities that involve climbing or hiking should also be avoided.

To prevent the symptoms from getting worse, your child should avoid sudden movement and changes in position. It is important to change positions slowly.

Vertigo in Children (PDF) : 

HH-I-385 6/15 Copyright 2015, Nationwide Children's Hospital