BMJ 2002;324:495-496 ( 2 March )

Editorials

The misdiagnosis of epilepsy

The rate of misdiagnosis and wide treatment choices are arguments for specialist care of epilepsy

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The case of Dr Andrew Holton, consultant paediatrician at Leicester Royal Infirmary, highlights once again some of the dangers and pitfalls in the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. He has been suspended and referred to the General Medical Council after a review of 214 children seen by him showed that 171 gave definite or possible "cause for concern." Just over a third of the children were not thought to have had epilepsy, and just under a third were thought to have been overtreated.¹ Both are common pitfalls in the management of epilepsy.

The review also made clear that Dr Holton's training fell well short of what would be required for his post. Although a consultant in paediatrics, Dr Holton was not a paediatric neurologist, of whom there are just 62 in the United Kingdom. The report also points to professional isolation and under-resourcing as important mitigating factors in Dr Holton's practice. This episode . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Personal View from Parent of young epileptic child

James Pickering
bmj.com, 5 Mar 2002 [Full text]

Who cares for people with epilepsy

John Sharvill
bmj.com, 6 Mar 2002 [Full text]

Clinical Neurophysiologits are expert in the interpretation of the EEG for epilepsy

Brian McNamara
bmj.com, 7 Mar 2002 [Full text]

The misdiagnosis of epilepsy in children is extremely common.

Richard E. Appleton
bmj.com, 22 Mar 2002 [Full text]

Re: The misdiagnosis of epilepsy in children is extremely common.

Sergio Stagnaro
bmj.com, 25 Mar 2002 [Full text]

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