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Published:
Jan 23, 2024Keywords:
Family medicine; general practice; primary care; vertigo; dizziness.Remove Family medicine; general practice; primary care; vertigo; dizziness.
Article Details
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CPD Article
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Main Article Content
Vertiginous dizziness: A primary care approach
Shane D. Murphy
Michael G. van Aardt
Abstract
Dizziness is an extremely common, yet complex neurological symptom that reflects a disturbance of normal balance perception and spatial orientation. Dizziness is a non-specific, catch-all term commonly used by patients to describe a wide array of symptoms, including a sensation of motion, weakness, light-headedness, unsteadiness, emotional upset and depression. The national 1-year prevalence of dizziness is around 50%, accounting for 4% of emergency department presentations and 1% of primary care consultations in South Africa. This article will focus on a diagnostic approach to the most common cause of dizziness (vertigo).
