Key points for diagnosis
(1) The patient has sudden paroxysmal and rotary vertigo which mostly lasts dozens of minutes or several hours and can abate spontaneously in general before it changes into intermittent stage. The intermittent stage lasts several days, or a couple of months, even several years. The intermittent stage shortens in case of repeated onset. During the onset, vertigo is severer, but the patient is conscious.
(2) The patient has unilateral tinnitus and deafness. Symptoms change as vertigo occurs. Deafness is mostly mild and worsens gradually after the repeated attack.
(3) There exist nausea, vomiting and cold sweat in the patient.
(4) Examination shows the patient suffers from spontaneous and horizontal nystagmus.
(5) Electronystagrnograph can help diagnosis.
(6) Glycerine test: Drink the solution of 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg of glycerin added to the equal amount of physiological saline. Conduct electro-audiometry once every other hour before and after the administration for three times altogether. Electro-audiometry is positive if hearing of the affected ear is improved by 15 decibels after the administration of glycerin. For ordinary patients, the test is mostly positive at the stage of attack, but may be negative at the intermittent stage
In TCM, a disease or a symptom might be caused by one pathogenic factor, even two or three pathogenic factors. When diagnosing a disease or a symptom, TCM doctors must follow the principle of "Syndrome Dfferentiation", and then "Suit the Remedy to the Case". In order to gain a more definite and valuable diagnosis, it's important and necessary for the doctor to learn the detailed health information of the patient, including his/her disease duration, age, sex, height, weight, family history, urine, stool, diet, sleep, sweat, energy, mood (emotion), as well as the tongue conditions and the palm conditions, etc. If you would want our expert to create a TCM diagnosis, you're welcome to contact us.