title: Seizures with an atypical aetiology in an elderly patient: Eagle's syndrome--how does one treat it?
abstract: Onset of epilepsy can occur at any age, but it is relatively rare in the elderly. Late onset epilepsy is usually secondary to stroke, tumour, trauma or neurodegenerative disorders. A 62-year-old Indian woman presented with frequent drop attacks sometimes leading to unconsciousness and, rarely, associated with seizure. Her epilepsy work up was unremarkable. As the disease progressed, she was diagnosed as having idiopathic epilepsy, syncope or pseudo-seizure, on different occasions, and was treated at length with no response. Finally, detailed history-taking revealed her as having glossopharyngeal neuralgia leading to syncope and seizures. She subsequently improved. In clinical practice, such rare entities should also be considered for proper management of patients' ailments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Javeed Ahmed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Abubaker Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Almadani
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000069583:Pregabalin