69 (7): 545–7. doi:10.1136/bjo.69.7.545. PMC 1040666. PMID 4016051. External links
Progressive hemifacial atrophy; Parry-Romberg syndrome at NIHs Office of Rare Diseases
Other conditions which can cause similar symptoms, such as dehydration, orthostatic hypotension, heart problems, adrenal insufficiency, epilepsy, and Parkinsons disease, must not be present.Treatment may include avoiding factors that bring on symptoms, increasing dietary salt and water, small and frequent meals, avoidance of immobilization, wearing compression stockings, and taking medications. Medications used may include beta blockers, pyridostigmine, midodrine or fludrocortisone. More than 50% of patients whose condition was triggered by a viral infection get better within five years. About 80% of patients have symptomatic improvement with treatment, while 25 percent of patients are so disabled they are unable to work. Retrospective studies has shown that five years after diagnosis, 19% of patients had a full resolution of symptoms.It is estimated that 500,000 people in the United States have POTS. The average age for POTS onset is 20 years old, and it occurs about five times more frequently in females than in males. Signs and symptoms
In adults, the primary manifestation is an increase in heart rate of more than 30 beats per minute within ten minutes of standing up. The resulting heart rate is typically more than 120 beats per minute. For people between ages 12 and 19, the minimum increase for a POTS diagnosis is 40 beats per minute. POTS is often accompanied by common features of orthostatic intolerance—in which symptoms that develop while upright are relieved by reclining. These orthostatic symptoms include palpitations, light-headedness, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, weakness or "heaviness" in the lower legs, blurred vision, and cognitive difficulties.