ABDOMINAL EPILEPSY

Objective: To study the clinical profile of patients diagnosed as havi ng abdominal epilepsy. Setting: Neurology Service at the King Fahd Hos pital of the University (KFHU), Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. Patients and M ethods: Review of all records of patients diagnosed as having epilepsy at the KFHU between January 1985 and December 1992. Results: Abdomina l epilepsy was diagnosed in four Saudi males, three children and one a dult. They all presented with recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting. T he diagnosis was made on the basis of abdominal pain of non-gastrointe stinal origin, EEG abnormalities and good response to antiepileptic dr ugs. Conclusion: Although abdominal epilepsy is uncommon it is importa nt for physicians to be aware of the condition since the symptoms are readily responsive to anticonvulsants.