Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in adults is a common cause of dizziness seen in general practice with a 1-year prevalence of 1.6%.1 It is characterised by brief episodes of dizziness or vertigo typically triggered by rapid changes in the position of the head and can be associated with nausea which may persist.2 BPPV can resolve spontaneously within weeks or months.2 It can present in clusters and can recur after remission.2 This short paper is based on a critical literature review.
DIAGNOSING BPPV
GPs can confirm a diagnosis of BPPV using the Dix-Hallpike test.2,3 The patient is moved quickly ‘from a sitting position to lying with the head tipped 45° below the horizontal, 45° to the side, and with the side of the affected ear (and semicircular canal) downwards.’2 The Dix-Hallpike test is positive when …