Citation

Murphy SD, Van Aardt M. S. Afr. Fam. Pract. (2004) 2023; 65(1): e1-e5.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.4102/safp.v65i1.5712

PMID

37132567

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).

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; primary care; Primary Health Care; general practice; *Dizziness/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology; *Vertigo/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology; dizziness; family medicine; Orientation, Spatial; Space Perception; vertigo