title: Seizures as a cause of altered mental status.
abstract: The differential diagnosis and empiric management of altered mental status and seizures often overlap. Altered mental status may accompany seizures or simply be the manifestation of a postictal state. This article provides an overview of the numerous causes of altered mental status and seizures: metabolic, toxic, malignant, infectious, and endocrine causes. The article focuses on those agents that should prompt the emergency physician to initiate unique therapy to abate the seizure and correct the underlying cause.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 901 Rancho Lane, Suite #135, Las Vegas, NV 89106, USA. dslatts@mac.com
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Slattery
authors: Charles V
authors: CV
authors: Pollack
mesh_terms: D020270:Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications