J Korean Assoc Pediatr Surg.
1995 Dec;1(2):170-176. 10.13029/jkaps.1995.1.2.170.
Abdominal Epilepsy Misdiagnosed as Acute Surgical Condition in Childhood
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
- KMID: 2440245
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.13029/jkaps.1995.1.2.170
Abstract
- Abdominal epilepsy is accepted as unusual cause of abdominal pain in children and young adolescents. Although its abdominal symptoms may be similar to those of the irritable bowel syndrome, it may be distinguished from the latter condition by the presence of the altered consciousness during some of attacks, EEG abnormalities, and a good response to anticonvulsant medication. The diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy came into vogue in the 1950s and 1960s as an explanation for childhood abdominal complaints. More recently, it has been recognized that isolated vomiting without loss of consciousness or other more common paroxysmal symtoms is rarely attributable to abdominal epilepsy. We report 4 cases of abdominal epilepsy, whose ages ranged from 8 to 11 years, with paroxysmal abdominal pain or vomitng consistent with a diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy.
