[Paroxysmal non-epileptic events]

OBJECTIVE: This article aims at reviewing one of the most important problems faced by pediatricians in the field of child neurology. The paroxystic non-epileptic events are also a frequent reason for pediatric neurology consultations and admission for diagnostic videoelectroencephalogram monitoring. SOURCES: Literature review on the subject was perform on Medline, data were also collected from the main Pediatric Neurology Textbooks, which were found to be an important and unique source of information on the subject. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Many of the entities discussed in this paper are very common in the pediatric population such as syncope, breath-holding spells and the movement disorders associated with gastroesophageal reflux. Other syndromes are less frequent such as the paroxysmal dystonias and the Segawa Syndrome (dystonia with diurnal variation). CONCLUSIONS: The basic knowledge of these syndromes is very important since it may avoid unnecessary procedures and the wrongful diagnosis of epilepsy. Patients who are mistakenly diagnosed as epileptics are exposed to anticonvulsant medications, which are probably not going to be effective and may expose them to the risk of side effects.