What do you know about otolithiasis?

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), known as “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo”, refers to transient paroxysmal vertigo induced by a particular head position. It is most common in middle-aged patients. The main symptom of otolithiasis is episodic vertigo, accompanied by rotation of the surrounding things, which lasts for about a minute. Patients often complain that they feel a “spinning” when they get up, lie down or turn over in their sleep, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The duration is very short, each time the vertigo time is not more than 1 minute, and the head position is very related to the daytime when the head position is stationary often do not attack. Typical patients will say they feel dizzy the moment their head touches the pillow. So patients are very careful when getting up and lying down because they don’t know in which position the vertigo will be caused, and tend to be very nervous for a long time, and some of them are accompanied by a state of anxiety. The disease is common in middle-aged people and is mostly self-limiting, with most cases resolving after a few days to a few months. However, there are also cases that do not heal beyond 3 months, which are called “persistent”. The main cause of BPPV is the dislodgement of otoliths due to various reasons. When the head is moved to the stimulated position, the otoliths are shifted by the force of gravity, which induces transient vertigo. The cause of BPPV is unknown in the vast majority of cases, but a minority of patients can have vertigo due to head trauma, Meniere’s disease and other causes. Bed rest is recommended, preferably in a side-lying position, on the healthy side, i.e., the side that does not cause the vertigo attack, and the vertigo symptoms will often be significantly reduced after a day’s rest. At the same time, avoid bending down and tilting the head, do not shake the head violently, and do not do strenuous exercise within one month. Treatment: It is clinically proven that the treatment of BPPV is based on repositioning treatment. My experience is that no medication is needed. Several patients have had many tests and taken many medications before coming to the clinic. BPPV repositioning is clinically simple and easy to perform, with reliable efficacy and saving medical costs, and is currently the treatment of choice for this disease. The repositioning is mainly through the controlled change of head position to achieve the therapeutic purpose, the treatment will have a short period of dizziness and nausea, most patients can cooperate. This method is not only safe and reliable, low medical cost, but also immediate effect, significant therapeutic effect, significantly shorten the treatment course. Of course, the causes of vertigo are many and complex. If persistent vertigo occurs, accompanied by vomiting and other symptoms, it is important to come to the neurology department as soon as possible to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment. Typical “otolithiasis” is rarely characterized by vertigo lasting more than a few minutes, and can be quickly relieved by a change in head position, making it very easy to identify.