Transient loss of consciousness

Question 1

Causes of TLOC

Answer 1

breath holding attacks

• ​upset toddlers
• cries–> holds breath–> goes blue
• brief LOC, rapidly fully recover
• behaviour modification therapy (distraction) may help
• resolve spontenously

reflex anoxic seizures

• ​occur in head trauma, eating cold food, fright and fever
• infants/ toddlers
• FHx of faints
• pallor, drops to floor
• hypoxia may induce a generalised tonic-clonic seizure
• usually brief and child rapidly recovers
• cardiac asystole due to vagal inhibition

syncope

• ​hot, stuffy environment; standing for hours; fear
• clonic movements may occur

migraine

• ​unsteadiness/ light headedness
• benign paroxsymal vertigo
• ​reccurent episodes of vertigo lasting several minutes
• nystagmus, unsteadiness or falling
• viral labarynthitis

other

• ​cardiac arrhythmias
• TICS< day dreaming night terrors
• self-gratification
• NEAD- non-epileptic attack disorder
• pseudoseizures
• fabricated seizure
• induced illness- NAI ? injecting insulin ?SDH
• paroxysmal movement disorders (no LOC)