Differential diagnosis of staring spells in children: a video-EEG study.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Staring is frequently a nonepileptic manifestation in children. To differentiate epileptic versus nonepileptic staring, we reviewed clinical and video-EEG findings in 143 patients, aged 5 months to 43 years, monitored for staring episodes. In 79 patients staring was of epileptic origin; 46 had partial seizures and 33 atypical absence. Thirty-five had behavioral staring, 8 psychogenic seizures, 1 a migraine equivalent, and in 20 no staring spells were recorded. In all patients with epileptic staring, epilepsy was suspected clinically. Only 22 of the admissions for behavioral staring and 3 for pseudoseizures were to exclude a possible nonepileptic phenomenon. Review of their clinical histories revealed that certain findings strongly support a nonepileptic origin. In conclusion, a careful clinical history will differentiate between epileptic and nonepileptic staring episodes in most patients. Video-monitoring is helpful to adjust treatment or to exclude nonepileptic events in patients with refractory staring spells.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Carmant, L; Kramer, U; Holmes, GL; Mikati, MA; Riviello, JJ; Helmers, SL
Published Date
- April 1996
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 14 / 3
Start / End Page
- 199 - 202
PubMed ID
- 8736402
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0887-8994
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/0887-8994(96)00080-x
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States