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Nonepileptic paroxysmal events in childhood
1Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Pediatric Clinics of North America
|August 1, 1992
Summary
Differentiating childhood seizures from other paroxysmal events requires careful history taking, as laboratory tests like electroencephalograms can be misleading. This review covers key nonepileptic disorders presenting with similar episodic symptoms in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Seizures are common childhood paroxysmal events.
- Numerous other disorders mimic seizures with episodic attacks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical features of important nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders in childhood.
- To emphasize the differential diagnosis of childhood seizures.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical features of nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders.
- Emphasis on historical review for diagnosis.
- Discussion of pitfalls in laboratory testing, including electroencephalograms.
Main Results:
- Accurate differentiation requires considering alternate diagnoses.
- History is crucial for distinguishing seizures from other episodic events.
- Over-reliance on diagnostic tests like electroencephalograms can lead to misdiagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Thorough clinical evaluation and history are paramount in diagnosing childhood paroxysmal events.
- Awareness of nonepileptic disorders is essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Laboratory data should supplement, not replace, clinical judgment in pediatric neurology.