Sudden onset vertigo, DS can’t walk - is this really a virus?

[HJBeans]

Apologies, I am double-posting for traffic. I am very concerned but have anxiety related to my kids health and would like perspectives on whether to push for a second look at my son.

YABU = he’s been seen, leave it for now
YANBU = I’d be worried enough to take him back in to A&E

Son was enjoying football practice last night, standing waiting for a throw in, when the ground became unsteady for him. His dad was there and brought him home. He has rocking vertigo when standing / walking, where the ground seems to move like a boat. Called 111, took him to OOO doc and then to A&E. They did an ECG and standard neurological testing. They can see no sign of infection outside of one raised lymph node, but think it’s probably viral infection of the inner ear and will pass. We’ve been told to take him back if he blacks out, throws up or has severe head pain.

He’s worse today, and his gait is now oddly wide and jerky as if steadying himself on a rocking boat. He can’t stand or walk without holding on to something. The vertigo also isn’t made worse by shaking his head which seems odd to me if it’s inner ear related. I’m worrying something has been missed and need calming down. This time last night he was getting ready for practice after a day at school and now he can’t walk unaided. I’m scared. Thanks in advance for any info or hand-holding.

I had similar a few years ago. Woke up, if I walked clinging onto furniture to the bathroom was immediately sick. I was in bed for 3 days, then wobbled around the house for a further 2. No headache, if lying down as another pp noted no issues, not COVID (as far as home tests showed). I was prescribed medication when the GP realised that I had had occasional migraine (post menopause, aural) - he felt it was connected to that. I have not had a reoccurrence but take that medication with me everywhere and don't put myself in difficult situations. I hope your son feels better soon.

These were exactly my symptoms when I had labyrinthitis. One minute absolutely fine, the next I could only lay in bed with my eyes closed. It was extremely disturbing and scary. It happened after an accumulation of colds and upper chest infections. The worse lasted about 3 days but it took weeks to get back to normal.

If you want a giggle now feels more in hand - I got it as a student.

Can imagine how much sympathy I got……..

Vertigo can strike at the most random of times!
I get it from time to time, and it often happens when I'm nearing the end of a recovery period after being ill.
It happened to me this past weekend. I'd been ill the week before with a cough/cold thing. And happened to be sitting in a restaurant with my family, and suddenly felt really dizzy and almost drunk. I think it was because we were sitting at a round table, and I was swinging my head around a lot to talk to everyone.

I remember my dad having it, and it seemed to last quite a few weeks. But weirdly, the thing that seemed to cure it was getting a heavy cold!

Make an apptt with gp for review gp can refer to paediatric if needed
If no neurology signs then that is good it may resolve. Viral origin?
Gp can prescribe meds like ones for travel sickness cinnarizine which can help or you can ask pharmacy for this otc

You cam see what a neurology exam looks for eg

Just adding my experience here too - I've had severe vertigo a few times due to a virus when it gets into the sinuses and inner ear. It's awful and I've been unable to walk down a corridor without bumping into walls. Shaking his head would absolutely make it worse (so don't do it).

Plenty of rest, follow medical advice and see how he is in a few days.

I’ve had it 3 times. First time - GP said lie down. It lasted 7 days. Second time - desperate as flying on holiday 3 days later. Managed to talk to a doctor - Saturday morning so GPs not working. She got DH to do the head moment technique. No real change. We spoke again and she turned up with an injection. A few hours later I improved and no issues on holiday. That was around 6 years ago. In July - got it again. Was sick in the morning and by lunch I was fine. It’s very very odd.

With a child I would get ears checked by GP. However I could never ever get out of a chair let alone go to a surgery or A&E! You need a doctor to house call so good luck with that!

Thanks everyone. We’re back at the children’s hospital as he developed a headache and worsening of the vertigo last night (having it lying down while trying to sleep). They say with the altered gait as well as the dizziness it’s time for some head imaging. We’re waiting to see what’s available when and how urgent they think this is. Remains very scary but is so helpful to hear from those of you who have had it for benign reasons.

Thinking of you @HJBeans . Hope your DS is improving and that scan is ok. 💐💐💐

Don’t do this without professional help, it can make things worse

.

Vertigo is very scary. Hope he is feeling much better op

If it helps at all, I get vestibular migraines sometimes and first I get vertigo for a couple of days, then all lights feel too bright, and then the headache for about a day, and then a day or two of feeling almost hungover.

I had sudden onset vertigo, came on suddenly and after a quick stay in hospital nothing sinister was found, I was given some dizzy tablets and sent on my merry way, they did a mri on my head about 6 months later which was all clear.
It went after about a week, diagnosis Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), such a strange feeling, I was never dizzy in the spinning around until you wobble sense, but it felt like the floor was moving (like on a boat as you describe) and my eyes would dart, crazy.

Sounds like you are doing everything right OP, I hope he gets the all clear and just got a bit of vertigo that goes quickly, speeding recovery.

When I got what turned about to be labrinthytis, it was so scary and literally from nowhere. Sat at my desk and then couldn’t even hold my head up, everything span, couldn’t walk - it was more like moonwalking. Somehow got home and my DH was incredibly worried and he’s the most laidback non worrier. He said my pupils were huge and I got to the stairs and couldn’t move. I had no idea ears could create something that felt so scary. Vertigo can be awful! Please don’t panic x

It’s not likely for DS to have it for this reason in the UK? I had vertigo two days ago - as pp have said, it was like being drunk. The world was moving around. I had to hold onto DH to stop me falling over. I got into bed and shut my eyes - it was even worse.

As I am in the tropics, I assumed it was heat and dehydration. However when I thought about it, we traveled all round two cities in the same weather and nothing happened then - but laying on a sun lounger in the shade on a different island (more humid) had done this? The one thing I had done different was put on insect repellent (not a lot), due to an increasing number of bites. There is a very low - low risk of malaria here, and it’s best to avoid bites.

I looked it up and a side effect of insect repellent containing deet, can be dizziness and confusion. After 24 hours, the dizziness had much reduced.

I have vertigo a few times a year, when my ears are congested from pollen, I take anti nausea tablets they help with the dizziness and nausea. And I stopped laying in the bath with my ears submerged under water as it happens sometimes when water gets in my ear, also get triggered by mildew. Usually passes after a week or so with me.
I would take him to the childrens hospital if he isn't improving.

Good luck! I hope your boy is back to himself soon.

He has rocking vertigo when standing / walking, where the ground seems to move like a boat…

… The vertigo also isn’t made worse by shaking his head which seems odd to me if it’s inner ear related

OP, I have BPPV and I also had a balance issue that sounds similar to your DS’s. Rocking vertigo perfectly describes what I felt at the time and it was completely different to BPPV.

I went to a walk in clinic where I was sent to emergency for a CTScan. That was normal so I was booked for an MRI a couple of weeks later. All good. Things gradually got better. The neurologist said it might be from Covid, which I had for the first time three months before this occurred.

Things gradually got better although I had to use walking poles and made myself walk everyday, around the block once, then twice, then further afield.

I don’t know if this is what your DS has, but it sounds familiar. Good luck!

(I am in Canada so your experience with hospitals might be different. Also, I am nearly 60.)

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the responses. He had the MRI and bloodwork on Thursday and both were clear. Yesterday he seemed a bit better and today he is clearly better - able to go into the garden and kick a ball about with me. He was very tearful yesterday and seems both upset at being unable to do things like normal and worried about getting back into things when he still feels unsteady. Being outside was great, though, as he didn’t mind when he fell over and it seemed more fun to be wobbly than worrying to him. He kept toppling over and laughing. 😁 He seems much more wobbly when concentrating on it - so standing still looking at something is very hard, but running toward a ball is easier. I think there’s probably a balance to be struck in getting him moving again and rushing him and between building confidence and avoiding injury. But this is all so much better than it seemed it could be a few days ago - I’m very grateful.

I honestly don’t think that’s vertigo as I know it. When I’ve got it my head is swimming immediately and it’s a big effort to get up and walk. Kicking a ball or going to A&E would be impossible. Do they think it’s vertigo?

He needs a CT to rule out intracranial problem, first thing is do is take him to an optician, vast majority of brain tumours can be picked up there.

That is great news, the MRI or at least a CT and blood work should have been done right away! I'm glad it was all ok

@Barnbrack That’s somewhat worrying for op when DS has been to hospital!

He’s recovering now. When we went to A&E he was carried and wheel-chaired everywhere. The diagnosis was vestibular neuritis, which they said to treat as viral unless he deteriorated and should pass in a week or so. So his recovery was expected on about this timescale.