Conversion reaction: management by the paediatrician

Abstract

Paediatricians cope successfully with children with conversion reaction with early diagnosis and immediate intervention.

Diagnostic value of Hoover sign and motor-evoked potentials in acute somatoform unilateral weakness and sensory impairment mimicking vascular stroke

“…Somatoform disorder may present with unexplained deafness, blindness, hemiplegia or paraplegia, anesthesia, seizures, aphonia, ataxia, vomiting or diarrhea. [18][19][20] Acute somatoform unilateral weakness simulating a vascular stroke is rare in adults, and we found a total of 31 reported patients. 3-10 Marshall et al 3 in 1997 were the first to have examined the regional cerebral blood flow of a woman with a somatoform disorder, which manifested as complete left-sided paralysis for 2.5 years.…”

Functional Movement Disorders: Updated Overview

“…The majority of them have a good long-term outcome with a rare recurrence of symptoms in general [30][31][32]. Triggering factors or precipitating events are often identified [33]. These include physical injury, infection, surgery, or other significant stressful life events [34].…”

Conversion reaction following anaesthesia

“…Conversion reaction is uncommon in childhood and below the age of 10 is extremely rare [2]. It is defined as a representation of an unconscious, involuntary process by which psychosocial needs, conflicts or stresses are expressed as somatic symptoms, and is suspected when symptoms do not conform to a known anatomical or physiological pattern [3].…”

“…There were nine dystonic reactions to propofol [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] and four of dystonia after ondansetron administration [2,[10][11][12]. Reactions to ondansetron are well recognised by oncologists.…”

“…The patient will often show Ôla belle indifferenceÕ or lack of anxiety, and there will be primary and secondary gain achieved; primary gain from the symptom which symbolises the unconscious conflict, and secondary gain by the attention the patient receives [2,3]. The diagnosis can be made by elimination of an organic cause together with obtaining a careful history, including timing of events and any underlying stress.…”