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Diagnosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Diagnosing epilepsy is not easy, and misdiagnosis occurs in around 25% of cases. An adequate diagnosis of epilepsy requires

  • differentiation between seizures and other causes of transient neurological disturbance and collapse
  • differentiation between acute symptomatic and unprovoked epileptic seizures
  • classification of the disorder and identification of the cause so as to optimise treatment (1)

Regarding diagnosis of epilepsy, NICE state that (2):

  • a specialist medical practitioner with training and expertise in epilepsy should establish the diagnosis of epilepsy in an adult while a specialist paediatrician with training and expertise in epilepsy should confirm the diagnosis of epilepsy in children and the young.
  • it is recommended that all adults having a first seizure should be seen as soon as possible by a specialist in the management of epilepsies to ensure precise and early diagnosis and initiation of therapy as appropriate to their needs
  • it is recommended that all children and young people who have had a first non-febrile seizure should be seen as soon as possible by a specialist in the management of the epilepsies to ensure precise and early diagnosis and initiation of therapy as appropriate to their needs.

 

Reference:

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