Neurol. praxi. 2015;16(2):80-83

Differential diagnosis of epilepsy and epileptic seizures

doc. MUDr. Vladimír Donáth, CSc., Ph.D.
II. neurologická klinika SZU a FNsP F. D. Roosevelta, Banská Bystrica

Differential diagnosis of epileptic seizures can be a complicated matter. Misdiagnosis of epilepsy is not uncommon. Even in tertiary epilepsy centres, misdiagnosis of epilepsy occurs in 20% to 30% of cases. In terms of differential diagnosis, essentially the most important step is a thorough history, ideally from an eye witness, or a recording of the seizure on a mobile phone. In more complex cases, neuroimaging studies as well as video-EEG monitoring are beneficial. The article presents a brief overview of the clinical conditions with which epilepsy can be confused in the clinical practice, and of the options of distinguishing them from epileptic seizures.

Keywords: epilepsy, epileptic seizure, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, syncope, EEG, differential diagnosis

Published: May 1, 2015  Show citation

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Donáth V. Differential diagnosis of epilepsy and epileptic seizures. Neurol. praxi. 2015;16(2):80-83.
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