- List of Contributors
- List of Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 Neurophysiology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 2 Neurogenetics of Epilepsy
- Chapter 3 Neurochemistry of Epilepsy
- Chapter 4 Developmental Neurobiology, Neuroanatomy, and Neuropathology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 5 Definitions and Epidemiology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 6 The Causes of Epilepsy
- Chapter 7 Classification, Clinical Symptoms, and Syndromes
- Chapter 8 Differential Diagnosis of Epilepsy
- Chapter 9 The Electroencephalogram in the Investigation of Epilepsy
- Chapter 10 Neuroimaging in the Investigation of Epilepsy
- Chapter 11 The Biochemical, Haematological, Histological, Immunological, and Genetic Investigation of Epilepsy
- Chapter 12 Non-Pharmacological Therapy of Epilepsy
- Chapter 13 Reproductive Aspects of Epilepsy
- Chapter 14 Neonatal Seizures and Infantile-Onset Epilepsies
- Chapter 15 Epileptic Encephalopathies
- Chapter 16 Principles of Treatment of Epilepsy in Children and Adolescents
- Chapter 17 Epilepsy in Learning Disability
- Chapter 18 Epilepsy in the Elderly
- Chapter 19 Psychiatric Comorbidity in Epilepsy
- Chapter 20 Epilepsy due to Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebrovascular Disease, Central Nervous System Infections, and Brain Tumours
- Chapter 21 Epilepsy in Renal, Hepatic, and Other Conditions
- Chapter 22 Management of Patients with First Seizure and Early Epilepsy
- Chapter 23 The Medical Treatment of Chronic Active Epilepsy
- Chapter 24 Epilepsy in Remission
- Chapter 25 Drug Interactions
- Chapter 26 The Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Therapeutics of the Antiepileptic Drugs
- Chapter 27 Principles of Epilepsy Surgery
- Chapter 28 Resective Surgery of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
- Chapter 29 Resective Surgery of Extratemporal Epilepsy
- Chapter 30 Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Deep Brain Stimulation in Epilepsy
- Chapter 31 Other Surgeries for Epilepsy and New Approaches
- Chapter 32 Management of Seizures and of Epilepsy in the Emergency Department
- Chapter 33 Management of Status Epilepticus on the Intensive Care Unit
- Chapter 34 Epilepsy and Employment
- Chapter 35 Sexual and Emotional Behaviour in Epilepsy
- Chapter 36 Epilepsy: Cognition and Memory in Adults
- Chapter 37 Legal Aspects of Epilepsy and Epilepsy and Driving
- Index
(p. 81) Differential Diagnosis of Epilepsy
- Chapter:
- (p. 81) Differential Diagnosis of Epilepsy
- Author(s):
Kristina Malmgren
, Markus Reuber
, and Richard Appleton
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199659043.003.0008
Paroxysmal attacks with or without loss of consciousness are common in both children and adults. The correct treatment depends on the cause of the attacks, so the consequences of misdiagnosis may be far-reaching. Taking a good history (including a witness report) is as crucial in the diagnostic process as it is important to have a good knowledge of the range of possible presentations of different paroxysmal events. Diagnostically relevant information is not limited to the symptoms and signs during the onset, course and offset of the attack, but includes information on the circumstances, past medical history and family history as well as how patients interact with their doctor. Factual information clusters are of greater diagnostic value than interictal investigations. A ‘gold standard’ diagnosis involves the observation of attacks during simultaneous recording of video, EEG and ECG, but is often not achievable. This chapter discusses the diagnostic process of adults and children presenting with paroxysmal neurological disorders in general and transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) in particular. It describes the typical features of syncope, episodic psychiatric, sleep and movement disorders, transient ischaemic attacks, migraine, transient global amnesia, metabolic disorders and differential diagnoses only encountered in paediatric practice. The chapter focuses on the clinical presentations, diagnostic difficulties and potential clues.
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- List of Contributors
- List of Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 Neurophysiology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 2 Neurogenetics of Epilepsy
- Chapter 3 Neurochemistry of Epilepsy
- Chapter 4 Developmental Neurobiology, Neuroanatomy, and Neuropathology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 5 Definitions and Epidemiology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 6 The Causes of Epilepsy
- Chapter 7 Classification, Clinical Symptoms, and Syndromes
- Chapter 8 Differential Diagnosis of Epilepsy
- Chapter 9 The Electroencephalogram in the Investigation of Epilepsy
- Chapter 10 Neuroimaging in the Investigation of Epilepsy
- Chapter 11 The Biochemical, Haematological, Histological, Immunological, and Genetic Investigation of Epilepsy
- Chapter 12 Non-Pharmacological Therapy of Epilepsy
- Chapter 13 Reproductive Aspects of Epilepsy
- Chapter 14 Neonatal Seizures and Infantile-Onset Epilepsies
- Chapter 15 Epileptic Encephalopathies
- Chapter 16 Principles of Treatment of Epilepsy in Children and Adolescents
- Chapter 17 Epilepsy in Learning Disability
- Chapter 18 Epilepsy in the Elderly
- Chapter 19 Psychiatric Comorbidity in Epilepsy
- Chapter 20 Epilepsy due to Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebrovascular Disease, Central Nervous System Infections, and Brain Tumours
- Chapter 21 Epilepsy in Renal, Hepatic, and Other Conditions
- Chapter 22 Management of Patients with First Seizure and Early Epilepsy
- Chapter 23 The Medical Treatment of Chronic Active Epilepsy
- Chapter 24 Epilepsy in Remission
- Chapter 25 Drug Interactions
- Chapter 26 The Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Therapeutics of the Antiepileptic Drugs
- Chapter 27 Principles of Epilepsy Surgery
- Chapter 28 Resective Surgery of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
- Chapter 29 Resective Surgery of Extratemporal Epilepsy
- Chapter 30 Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Deep Brain Stimulation in Epilepsy
- Chapter 31 Other Surgeries for Epilepsy and New Approaches
- Chapter 32 Management of Seizures and of Epilepsy in the Emergency Department
- Chapter 33 Management of Status Epilepticus on the Intensive Care Unit
- Chapter 34 Epilepsy and Employment
- Chapter 35 Sexual and Emotional Behaviour in Epilepsy
- Chapter 36 Epilepsy: Cognition and Memory in Adults
- Chapter 37 Legal Aspects of Epilepsy and Epilepsy and Driving
- Index