Mendelsohn H, Tirosh E, Berant M
Pediatrics Dept., Rambam Medical Center, Haifa.
Harefuah. 1992 Jan 15;122(2):79-80.
We describe a 7-month-old girl referred for evaluation of a convulsive disorder. The tentative diagnosis of epilepsy was based on what were apparently paroxysmal events which occurred many times during a day. A cousin had suffered from infantile spasms and is mentally retarded. The episodic "attacks" in our patient consisted of sudden rhythmic body movements, crossing of thighs, altered awareness, glassy stare and profuse sweating. While the attacks subsided spontaneously, they could easily be aborted by changing the infant to a sitting position or by picking it up and holding it, when it would revert to completely normal behavior. A detailed history and personal observation of the "attacks" made it clear that they were really physical manifestations of masturbation. The diagnosis of epilepsy was therefore discarded. Awareness of masturbation in infants is essential for establishing the correct diagnosis, and spares infants and families many superfluous investigations and the anxiety associated with a diagnosis of convulsive disorder in children.
我们描述了一名7个月大的女童，因惊厥性疾病前来评估。癫痫的初步诊断基于一天中多次出现的明显阵发性事件。患儿的一个堂兄曾患婴儿痉挛症且智力发育迟缓。我们这名患者的发作性“发作”包括身体突然有节律地运动、双腿交叉、意识改变、眼神呆滞和大量出汗。虽然发作会自行缓解，但将婴儿改为坐姿或抱起时，发作很容易中止，此时婴儿会恢复完全正常的行为。对“发作”的详细病史和个人观察表明，它们实际上是自慰的身体表现。因此，癫痫的诊断被摒弃。认识到婴儿自慰对于做出正确诊断至关重要，可使婴儿及其家庭避免许多不必要的检查以及与儿童惊厥性疾病诊断相关的焦虑。
