The impact of follow-up on etiological classification of pediatric vertigo

Božanić Urbančič, Nina (avtor), Mladenov, Dejan (avtor), Battelino, Saba (avtor)

Background: Vertigo and dizziness in children represent diagnostically challenging conditions with heterogeneous etiologies. At initial presentation, a substantial proportion of pediatric patients remain without a definitive etiological diagnosis. Evidence on the impact of longitudinal follow-up on etiological classification in pediatric vertigo is limited. Methods: This observational cohort study uses prospectively collected clinical data. Children aged 1-17 years who presented to a tertiary ENT clinic with vertigo and/or dizziness between 2015 and 2020 were systematically enrolled and followed. The present study represents a retrospective revision of a previously published cohort of 257 children. In 2025, extended follow-up data were reviewed to reassess etiological classification using the same diagnostic categories as in the original analysis. Descriptive statistics were applied to compare etiological distributions at initial evaluation and after follow-up revision. Results: After data revision, the proportion of children with unclassified etiology decreased from 44% to 10%. Central etiologies accounted for 35% of cases, peripheral vestibular disorders for 18%, hemodynamic causes for 16%, psychogenic etiologies for 10%, and other specific causes for 7%. Follow-up duration ranged from 0 to 132 months (mean 17.6 months; median 4.5 months). Diagnostic investigations were frequently performed; however, the etiological yield of certain tests, particularly cranial computed tomography, was low. Conclusions: Extended follow-up significantly improves etiological classification in children with vertigo and dizziness, demonstrating that diagnostic uncertainty at initial presentation often reflects evolving clinical phenotypes rather than the absence of an underlying disorder. A longitudinal, clinically guided, and multidisciplinary approach is essential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and optimize the use of diagnostic investigations in pediatric vertigo.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: dizziness, etiology, follow-up, migraine, pediatric vertigo, vestibular disorders
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 13 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 13, iss. 3, art. 376
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182563
• UDK: 616.21
• ISSN pri članku: 2227-9067
• DOI: 10.3390/children13030376
• COBISS.SI-ID: 277870339
• Datum objave v RUL: 19.05.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Children
• Skrajšan naslov: Children
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2227-9067
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523029017

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: omotica, etiologija, sledenje, migrena, pediatrična vrtoglavice, vrtoglavica pri otrocih

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P3-0307
• Naslov: Rak glave in vratu - analiza bioloških značilnosti in poskus izboljšanja zdravljenja