ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the range of conditions and syndromes that commonly present acutely to medical services in the elderly. Dizziness is a vague term that can cover a number of clinical presentations and diagnoses. It is important to distinguish between vertiginous and non-vertiginous varieties. The maintenance of balance is dependent on a complex array of sensory and motor systems. Benign paroxysmal position vertigo (BPPV) is caused by debris within the semicircular canals of the labyrinthine structures, which inappropriately activate the sensory cells. Vertigo of a central cause is typically associated with other neurological signs. The most important central cause of vertigo is cerebrovascular disease. A study found that 10% of cerebellar strokes confirmed by MRI findings presented as isolated vertigo. The management of vertigo depends on the underlying cause. BPPV can be treated by the Epley manoeuvre, which is a specific series of movements aimed at getting the causative debris out of the inner ear.
