A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain: Abdominal Epilepsy

Abstract

Abdominal epilepsy (AE) is characterized by paroxysmal gastrointestinal complaints, symptoms of central nervous system disturbance, abnormal electroencephalogram with findings specific for a seizure disorder, and improvement with anticonvulsant drugs. AE is a very rare cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. In this article, we present the case of a 5.5-year-old patient with gastrointestinal and central nervous system disturbance symptoms who was diagnosed with AE. (JAEM 2015; 14: 44-6)

When the Stomach Pain Is Literally “In Your Head”

“…It is charac ter ized by sud den-on set par ox ys mal pain in the midline or up per ab do men, which lasts for a few min utes or less. Other symp toms, such as nau sea, vom it ing, head aches, and neu ro log i cal com pli ca tions, may also be pres ent [10]. In our pa tient's case, the par ox ys mal ab dom i nal pain was local ized in the left up per and lower quad rants, along with bloat ing, which has also been ob served in other AE pa tients [5].…”

Abdominal epilepsy mimicking conversion disorder: a case report

“…In children and adolescents, recurrent abdominal pains, especially in younger children, can develop as a response to psychosocial stressors, can be considered as functional, and can be one of the common reasons for clinical referrals [2]. A rare cause of recurrent abdominal pain is abdominal epilepsy and it may be useful to consider in cases that have functional complaints [4]. In this case, a 16-year-old adolescent girl whose chief complaints included loss of consciousness and recurrent abdominal pains lasting for a year is presented.…”