J Korean Child Neurol Soc Search

CLOSE


Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society 1998;6(2):306-313.
Published online May 30, 1998.
Clinical Study of Differential Diagnosis between Childhood Convulsive Disorders and Nonepileptic Paroxysmal Disorders.
Jong Ho Kim, Kwang Soo Oh
Department of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University School of Medicine Iksan, Korea.
Abstract
PURPOSE
Many neurologic and psychiatric behaviors can mimic epileptic seizures. Making a diagnosis of these nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders is very important to prevent inappropriate use of antiepileptic drugs. We studied the clinical characteristics of nonepileptic paroxysmal events in order to help differentiate them from true epileptic seizures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 77 patients aged 2 months-15 years who visited the Pediatric Neurology clinic from January, 1990 to January, 1999 for evaluation of seizure disorders who were diagnosed as having nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders. RESULTS: Nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders were classified into 6 major groups as follows : movement disorders 19 cases (23.5%), respiratory disorders 16 (19.8%), loss of consciousness or tone 15 (18.5%), drug-induced dystonia 14 (17.3%), behavioral disorders 12 (14.8%), and perceptual disturbances 5 (6.1%). The final diagnoses of the 6 major groups were as follows : breath holding spell 16 cases (19.8%), syncope 14 (17.3%), drug-induced dystonia 14 (17.3%), pseudoseizure 6 (7.4%), sleep disorders 5 (6.1%), tics 4 (4.9%), headache 4 (4.9%), temper tantrum 4 (4.9%), sleep myoclonus 3 (3.7%), paroxysmal choreoathetosis 2 (2.5%), and masturbation 2 (2.5%). Five of the 77 patients also had idiopathic epilepsy. Breath holding spell is common in 2 months-6 years of age, syncope in 2-15 years, and pseudoseizure in 6-15 years. Monitoring in patients with pseudoseizure and abnormal eye movement with video EEG is helpful for diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Nonepileptic neurologic disorders are common and show a different incidence according to age group. The exact diagnosis of nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders using video EEG, is very important for preventing misdiagnosis and inappropriate use of antiepileptic drugs.
Key Words: Convulsive disorder, Children, Nonepileptic, Differential Diagnosis
TOOLS
Share :
Facebook Twitter Linked In Google+ Line it
METRICS Graph View
  • 824 View
  • 2 Download
Related articles in Ann Child Neurol


ABOUT
ARTICLE CATEGORY

Browse all articles >

BROWSE ARTICLES
EDITORIAL POLICY
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Editorial Office
101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea
Tel: +82-2-2072-2364    Fax: +82-2-743-3455    E-mail: editor@annchildneurol.org                

Copyright © 2024 by Korean Child Neurology Society.

Developed in M2PI

Close layer
prev next