Sudden vertigo should be considered as otolithiasis

  Otoliths, also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), is the most common cause of vertigo, a condition that has been and still is and will be frequently underdiagnosed for some time. It is characterized by transient paroxysmal positional vertigo with spontaneous remission and exacerbation and chronic symptoms of imbalance, commonly following colds, head trauma, surgery, middle ear infections, and often with other inner ear disease, but many cases are idiopathic with no other disease.  The typical presentation of otoliths is a sharp and brief rotational vertigo when turning around in bed, and the same vertigo, but perhaps to a lesser degree, when bending over or turning the head upward. It is important to note that the duration of vertigo usually does not exceed 30 seconds.  Otoliths can be seen in people of any age, but are most common in the elderly. They are diagnosed definitively by the Dix-Hallpike test and have a success rate of over 90% with manual repositioning treatments, including Epley, Semont and EpleyOminax treatments. No medication or injection is required.  The Department of Otolaryngology of our hospital has been carrying out the manipulative repositioning of otoliths and has cured hundreds of patients.