Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

Temporal epilepsy causing recurrent abdominal pain in adults

Gonzalo Alarcón

Abdominal epilepsy is an unusual syndrome in which paroxysmal symptoms resembling abdominal pathology result from seizure activity. Although abdominal sensations are common manifestations of seizures, symptoms resembling gastrointestinal conditions (such as abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea) are rare ictal symptoms, particularly in adults. Ictal pain is an uncommon ictal symptom, seen in as few as 2 per 1,000 patients and ictal abdominal pain is seen in only 33% of patients with ictal pain. The syndrome of abdominal epilepsy is characterised by: a) Otherwise unexplained, paroxysmal gastrointestinal complaints, mainly pain and vomiting; b) Symptoms arise from a central nervous system disturbance; c) Abnormal EEG with findings specific for a seizure disorder; and d) Improvement with anticonvulsant medication. A review of the history of this syndrome yielded 36 cases reported in the English literature in the previous 34 years.

Published Date: 2021-04-26;