When contacted by a patient suffering from acute vertigo or dizziness, the general practitioner needs easy clinical tools enabling him to screen for urgent and life-threatening central vestibular disorders in a timely and reliable manner. Some subjective complaints are red flags that indicate the need for a rapid medical examination before a possible referral to a neurology emergency unit. Using the HINTS tool must be further promoted, given that it proved to be specific and sensitive in detecting central vestibular disorders. After a review of the subjective symptoms and clinical signs that evoke central vestibular disorders, the article presents the most frequent peripheral vestibular disorders.
Key words
Acute vertigo, screening, central vestibular disorders