Pediatric vertigo (dizziness)

What is pediatric vertigo (dizziness)?

Vertigo is a condition that causes your child to feel dizzy. Vertigo is more common in adults, but can happen to children. Your child may feel like they are spinning even when they stand still, or they may feel as if the world around them is spinning. 

Vertigo happens when there is a problem in the brain or inner ear that affects your child’s balance. Usually, vertigo is a side effect of another minor condition, such as sinus congestion from a cold.

However, vertigo could indicate a more serious problem, so it’s important to have your child examined.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric vertigo (dizziness)?

• Abnormal eye movements (called nystagmus)
• Clumsiness
• Confusion
• Delayed or lost motor skills
• Difficulty walking straight
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss
• Migraine
• Motion sickness when the child is not in motion 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Poor balance
• Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

What are the causes of pediatric vertigo (dizziness)?

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) (sudden sensation of spinning)
• Bone or particle floating in the inner ear fluid
• Brain tumor
• Concussion or head injury
• Ear infection
• Eye movement disorder
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Injury to the ear
• Juvenile arthritis
• Meningitis
• Meniere’s disease
• Migraine
• Seizures
• Stroke