KUALA LUMPUR: Amni (not her real name) was like any other normal and active five-year-old but lately she seemed to have become clumsy and tended to fall easily.

The little girl also preferred to keep to herself or lie down rather than play with her friends.

After observing these changes in her daughter, her worried mother took her for a check-up and the doctor’s investigation showed the girl chose to lie down to avoid feeling as if she was being “tossed around in a boat”.

Amni’s condition was diagnosed as vertigo, which is characterised by a sensation of motion or spinning often described as dizziness. People with vertigo feel as though they are actually spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around them.

Vertigo can occur as a result of a condition affecting the inner ear or certain parts of the brain that disrupts the body’s balance. Symptoms of vertigo include headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, ringing in the ears, problems focusing the eyes and loss of balance which may cause falls.

As early as two years old

Although vertigo is usually associated with adults, children too are at risk of experiencing it.

According to an otorhinolaryngologist at International Islamic University Malaysia Assistant Prof Dr Norazwani Azwal, vertigo can occur in children as young as two years old.

She said vertigo in children is caused by several conditions, two of which are Vestibular Migraine and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

“Vestibular Migraine can cause vertigo to occur in a patient. We need to identify what triggers the migraine attacks first and we will help patients to avoid those triggers,” she told Bernama, adding that Vestibular Migraine can occur daily or once a week depending on what the triggers are.

She said parents need to identify the triggers of migraine in their young children, adding they could be linked to their diet.

“For example, if your child is allergic to cheese, trying to avoid it can help reduce and prevent the cause of vertigo,” she added.

BPPV, meanwhile, is caused by the displacement of small calcium crystals within the inner ear. An episode of BPPV may last only several seconds and often occurs when a person changes his or her position while lying on the bed.

Dr Norazwani said children with vertigo should be treated promptly, with the mode of treatment subject to the cause of the attack. They should also get enough rest, she said, adding the doctor will prescribe medications for them after identifying the underlying cause, as well as recommend other treatments involving physical therapy and exercises.

She also said the symptoms of vertigo are nearly the same for adults and children,

“It’s easy for parents to identify the symptoms in their young children if they are able to talk as they can say they are feeling nauseous or dizzy. In the case of children who are still not able to talk, the parents can detect it when they notice their child walking unsteadily, staggering or having abnormal eye movements,” she said, adding that children who have family members with a history of migraine are more likely to develop vertigo caused by Vestibular Migraine or BPPV.

‘Digital vertigo’

Meanwhile, Malaysian National Society of Audiologists president Associate Prof Dr Nor Haniza Abdul Wahat said even though vertigo is not all that common in children, parents and caregivers still need to be vigilant about its symptoms.

She, however, warned that today’s children are at risk of developing ‘digital vertigo’ caused by prolonged use of gadgets. It has been reported that too much of screen time can cause one to experience dizzy spells and nausea, similar to the symptoms of vertigo.

“Children these days are exposed to various smart devices and visual stimuli which can lead to the onset of vertigo symptoms.

“Our body usually moves in sync with our eyes. However, due to the frequent use of smart devices, children are spending more time focusing on the screen and having fewer physical movements. This can lead to their brains becoming confused, resulting in ‘digital vertigo’ or ‘cybersickness’,” pointed out Nor Haniza, who is also a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

She said although digital vertigo is a relatively new issue compared to the common symptoms of vertigo reported by patients, it should be taken seriously by parents who must take the necessary steps to ensure their children grow up into healthy adults.

Columbia Asia Hospital ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Nurhani Yasmin Abdul Rahman shared Nor Haniza’s views, saying too much screen time can expose smart device users to the risk of developing vertigo.

“(Staring at the screen) can strain the eyes, neck and back as well as disrupt children’s sleep patterns. One of the ways to prevent the onset of (digital) vertigo is by reducing screen time,” she said.

Dr Nurhani Yasmin added that if left untreated, children with vertigo may experience mental problems over the long term.

“Vertigo sometimes causes them to hear a buzzing sound in their eyes. If this goes on and on, it will affect them mentally and emotionally, even leading to depression,” she added.

Psychologist and Early Childhood Care and Education Council Malaysia president Prof Datin Dr Mariani Md Nor, meanwhile, said parents must refer to a child specialist if they notice any physical change in their young children.

“Children are afraid to do physical activities when they experience a vertigo attack (due to its symptoms). Should parents notice their children lying down most of the time and feeling uncomfortable, they should be taken to a specialist immediately,” she said.

- - BERNAMA