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19-month-old Girl with Seizure

Julie Kurek1, Cheyenne Falat2, Laura J Bontempo2

  • 1University of Maryland Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Baltimore, Maryland.

Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
|June 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric seizures require emergency department evaluation to distinguish serious causes from benign ones. This case highlights diagnostic approaches for seizures in young children, leading to an unexpected diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Pediatric seizures are a common emergency department (ED) presentation with diverse causes.
  • Differentiating life-threatening etiologies from benign conditions is critical for timely management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a case of pediatric seizure in the ED.
  • To illustrate the process of developing a differential diagnosis for pediatric seizures.
  • To discuss the diagnostic workup including history, exam, labs, and imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 19-month-old female presenting with a witnessed seizure.
  • Review of the diagnostic approach in the emergency department setting.
  • Discussion of differential diagnoses and the final diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • A comprehensive diagnostic strategy was employed, integrating clinical information and investigations.
  • The case led to a surprising final diagnosis, underscoring the complexity of pediatric seizures.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of pediatric seizures in the ED relies on a thorough differential diagnosis.
  • This case emphasizes the importance of considering a wide range of etiologies and utilizing diagnostic tools to reach the correct diagnosis.

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