30% minors fake epileptic seizures, say Indore doctors

INDORE: Around 30% minors are misdiagnosed with epilepsy at MY Hospital's medicine department as patients imitate similar symptoms to avoid school and family stress, claim neurologists.
According to doctors, misdiagnose result in negative impact on patient's health as after doctors start treatment for epilepsy, they suffer from side effects including acute obesity and unusual facial hair growth.
Consulting neurophysician at MY Hospital Dr Apoorva Pauranik said, "Around 15 patients in MY hospital are misdiagnosed with epilepsy every month. Due to stress and tension, children try to imitate epilepsy seizures which are called pseudoseizures."
Children mimic patient suffering from epilepsy to avoid school or family stress. When they are brought to MY Hospital, their treatment is started which includes medicines and daily exercises.
Since medicines have side effects including acute obesity and unusual increase in facial hair growth, the patient suffers from other problems as well.
"The reality is revealed after doctors observe no improvement in patient. Later on the patient is operated for obesity and hair growth so that the child can lead a normal life," Dr Pauranik added.
Assistant professor in psychiatry department of MY Hospital Dr Rahul Mathur said, "Usually when minors suffer from stress in school or family they suffer from pseudoseizures which are similar to epileptic seizure. However, there is a minor difference which cannot be identified easily."