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Cough syncope mimicking epilepsy in asthmatic children
Summary
Cough syncope, a fainting spell triggered by coughing, is a recognized complication of childhood asthma. Aggressive asthma control, particularly managing bronchospasm, is key to preventing these episodes in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Cough syncope is an underrecognized complication in pediatric asthma.
- It can be misdiagnosed as epilepsy due to associated seizure-like movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the occurrence of cough syncope in children with asthma.
- To emphasize the importance of distinguishing cough syncope from epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series.
- Identification of twelve pediatric patients with cough syncope over seven years.
Main Results:
- Twelve cases of typical cough syncope were identified in a pediatric clinic.
- Cough syncope can present with clonic movements mimicking seizures during anoxic episodes.
Conclusions:
- Cough syncope is more prevalent in childhood asthma than previously thought.
- A detailed medical history is crucial for differentiating cough syncope from epilepsy.
- Effective management involves aggressive control of bronchospasm in asthmatic children.