Epilepsy | Previous history of epilepsy |
Concurrent illness eg, infection | |
Changes in medication | |
Non-compliance with medication | |
CNS infection | History of recent illness/headache |
Meningitis | Rash |
Encephalitis | |
Head injury | History of recent trauma |
| Evidence of scalp bruising, swelling etc. |
Vascular | |
Stroke (new or old) | May be focal neurological signs |
Subarachnoid haemorrhage | |
Intracerebral haemorrhage | |
Metabolic | |
Hypoglycaemia | Always check blood glucose |
Hyponatraemia | |
Hepatic encephalopathy | Patient jaundiced |
Poisoning | |
Alcohol | ?smell of alcohol |
Tricyclic antidepressants | history of mental illness |
Mefenamic acid | empty tablet bottles |
Miscellaneous | |
Alcohol withdrawal | Known alcoholic who doesn’t smell of alcohol |
Eclampsia | Patient pregnant |
Malignant hypertension | Diastolic BP >110 mmHg |
Intracerebral tumour or metastases | History of malignancy |