Carbon monoxide poisoning: an unusual cause of dizziness.

OBJECTIVE

We report an unusual case of dizziness caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old man was referred to an ENT surgeon with dizziness. The patient described vague, non-specific symptoms not consistent with a diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis or Ménière's disease. It emerged later that the patient had been suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning from a leaky gas hot water boiler in his house. After having the boiler fixed, the patient's symptoms completely resolved.

CONCLUSION

When the more common causes of dizziness cannot be found, less common but important differential diagnoses, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, should be considered.