[Differential diagnosis of epilepsy].

Epilepsy may cause convulsion or transient loss of consciousness. Differential diagnosis of convulsion includes acute symptomatic seizure, psychogenic nonepileptic seizure, and epilepsy. Long duration of seizure, fluctuating course, and asynchronous movements favor psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Occurrence of seizure from EEG-confirmed sleep, postictal confusion, and stertorous breathing favor epileptic seizures. Differential diagnosis of transient loss of consciousness includes syncope, epilepsy, and hypoglycemia. Causes of syncope include vasovagal syncope, arrhythmia, and orthostatic hypotension.