Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Immediate priorities
Stabilization and safety
Airway compromise from vomiting or aspiration risk
If active emesis with inability to protect airway, escalation for airway management
Hemodynamic instability
If shock or syncope, alternate diagnosis pathway
Severe dehydration
IV isotonic fluids with reassessment
Time of symptom onset
Last known well for stroke pathway
Posterior circulation stroke exclusion priority
If focal neurologic deficit, immediate stroke protocol activation
Time critical exclusions
Dangerous mimics
Posterior circulation ischemic stroke
If central signs on oculomotor testing, urgent MRI brain with diffusion if available
Intracranial hemorrhage
If thunderclap headache or severe hypertension with neurologic change, noncontrast CT head
Meningitis or encephalitis
If fever or meningismus, infection pathway
Toxic exposure
If intoxication or polypharmacy, tox and medication adverse effect pathway
Acute coronary syndrome
If chest pain or diaphoresis, cardiac pathway
Key bedside decision points
Syndrome patterning
Acute vestibular syndrome definition
Continuous vertigo for hours to days
Spontaneous nystagmus
Nausea or vomiting
Gait unsteadiness
Episodic positional vertigo pattern
Brief attacks triggered by head position changes
Auditory symptoms pattern
Hearing loss or tinnitus suggesting labyrinthitis or Ménière disease
Central vs peripheral triage
HINTS family testing for acute vestibular syndrome in appropriate setting
Head impulse pattern
Nystagmus pattern
Test of skew pattern
New unilateral hearing loss for HINTS plus
Monitoring targets
Monitoring and reassessment
Serial neurologic status
New focal deficits triggering stroke escalation
Fall risk controls
Assisted ambulation only until stable gait
Hydration and electrolyte status
Ongoing emesis triggering IV rehydration and antiemetics
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.