Abdominal Epilepsy Misdiagnosed as Acute Surgical Condition in Childhood

소아에서 급성 복증으로 오진될 수 있는 복성 간질

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 vomiting consistent with a diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy.

저자들은 발작적인 복통 혹은 주기적인 구토를 주소로 내원한 8~11세의 소아 4명에서 임상 및 뇌파 소견을 종합하여 '복성간질'로 진단하고 항경련제로 치료하여 증상이 호전되어 문헌고찰과 함께 보고한다. 소아에서 원인을 알 수 없는 발작적인 복통 혹은 구토가 계속될 때 복성 간질을 고려하여 뇌파 검사를 시행하고 항경련제의 투여를 고려해야 할 것으로 사료된다.