Giddiness

Abstract

Giddiness, dizziness, vertigo are difficult symptoms to assess. In many instances the patient’s understanding is different to that of the doctor. Vertigo is a hallucination of movement, either of the patient or their surrounds. Acute vertigo is commonly associated with nausea, vomiting, pallor, perspiration, prostration and a sense of fear. These are well illustrated in acute motion sickness. In assessing giddiness it is important to ask if the symptoms arise in the head, are intermittent or persistent, and if there are any associated features or positional triggers. Rather non-specific complaints of faint or light headed feelings, particularly of long duration, are usually benign and often functional.