Benson P J, Klein E J
Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA, USA.
Ann Emerg Med. 2001 Apr;37(4):402-5. doi: 10.1067/mem.2001.114093.
Absence status epilepsy (ASE) is an uncommon seizure disorder in children. The primary presentation of new-onset ASE in a pediatric patient is an unusual cause of altered mental status in the emergency department. We describe a previously healthy 8-year-old child who presented with an acutely altered mental state. The patient was awake but confused, with a fluctuating level of alertness and an inability to perform simple routine tasks. The results of general physical and neurologic examination, with the exception of mental status, were normal. Head computed tomography and laboratory test results were normal. Electroencephalographic testing revealed seizure activity consistent with ASE. Administration of intravenous diazepam caused cessation of seizure activity and a return to the patient's baseline mental function. Although rare, ASE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of altered mental status in children.
失神性癫痫持续状态（ASE）是儿童中一种不常见的癫痫发作性疾病。儿科患者新发ASE的主要表现是急诊科精神状态改变的一个不寻常原因。我们描述了一名既往健康的8岁儿童，其出现急性精神状态改变。患者清醒但意识模糊，警觉程度波动，无法完成简单的日常任务。除精神状态外，全身体格检查和神经系统检查结果均正常。头部计算机断层扫描和实验室检查结果正常。脑电图检查显示癫痫活动与ASE一致。静脉注射地西泮后癫痫活动停止，患者精神功能恢复至基线水平。尽管罕见，但在儿童精神状态改变的鉴别诊断中应考虑ASE。
