MM208 - COVID-Related Dizziness in Pediatric Patients: Perception vs. Reality

While the primary symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID) are respiratory, hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness have been reported as well. The reported prevalence of dizziness in patients with COVID varies across published studies, with the highest being 20%. Although the exact mechanism of dizziness/vertigo in COVID remains unclear, formal vestibular testing may provide valuable input. Studies on vestibular symptoms in pediatric patients, comparing to adults, are scare. To provide more understanding on this topic, we would like to share our assessment of children with COVID-related dizziness. We hope this presentation may help audiologists in better management of this issue.

Summary:

In early 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the epidemic caused by coronavirus disease (COVID), as a public health emergency of international concern. Although COVID mainly affects the respiratory system, neurological complications have been extensively reported. In fact, several studies have reported that dizziness and vertigo as core clinical manifestations of COVID. Dizziness or vertigo can be a direct consequence of viral infection, affecting the vestibular function along the virus widespread course (from the inner ear to the brain). Also, dizziness may occur due to respiratory distress, hypoxia, and dehydration, etc. In certain cases, dizziness may be attributable to and exacerbated by psychophysical stress following acute infection and mandatory quarantine.  

Although the exact mechanism of dizziness/vertigo in COVID is debatable, the relatively high prevalence, reported up to 20%, deserves necessary attention among health care providers, including Neurologists, Otolaryngologists and Audiologists. Adults with COVID are often able to describe their vestibular symptoms, pediatric patients with COVID, unfortunately, may not be able to express their illness clearly. Instead, many parents would speak for their children and the exact nature of dizziness or vertigo can be ambiguous. Occasionally, there were some parents who reported vestibular symptoms following their children getting COVID vaccine. To better understand COVID-related dizziness in pediatric patients, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records from over two dozens of children with COVID-related dizziness we evaluated during 2020-2023.

In this presentation, we will share our clinical experience in the assessment of pediatric patients with COVID-related dizziness and describe clinical findings from diagnostic spectrum will be discussed.