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Cough syncope mimicking epilepsy in asthmatic children
Insights
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.
Abstract:
Cough syncope is a more common complication of childhood asthma than formerly recognized. We report twelve children with typical cough syncope who were identified in a pediatric clinic over a period spanning seven years. The condition may be confused with epilepsy because of frequently associated brief clonic convulsive movements during the height of the cerebral anoxia. Cough syncope is readily distinguished from epilepsy by a thorough history. The management and prevention of cough syncope is directed at the aggressive control of bronchospasm in children with asthma.