The Role of Paramedics in Diagnosing Sandifer’s Syndrome

TL;DR

This paper discusses how paramedics can help correctly diagnose Sandifer’s syndrome, a rare condition often mistaken for epilepsy, by identifying key symptoms during emergency care.

Contribution

The paper introduces a framework for paramedics to recognize and differentiate Sandifer’s syndrome from epilepsy in pre-hospital settings.

Findings

A thorough patient examination by paramedics helped rule out epilepsy and identify Sandifer’s syndrome in a 7-week-old child.

A rare symptom of apnoea was observed during the case study.

Correct diagnosis of Sandifer’s syndrome can prevent unnecessary anti-epilepsy medication and reduce side effects.

Abstract

Background: Sandifer’s syndrome is an uncharacteristic symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy. Paramedics can play a crucial role in recognising the differences between Sandifer’s syndrome and epilepsy. Therefore, education is important to reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis and the mistreatment of patients. This purpose of this study is to provides information and guidelines for collecting patients’ medical history and identifying the most common symptoms, which support pre-hospital suspicion of Sandifer’s syndrome. Methods: The study consisted of a clinical case study, concerning the management of the emergency team, in a 7-week-old child with symptoms indicative of an epileptic seizure. Results: The clinical case analysis showed that a thorough examination of the patient helped to rule out epilepsy in the child and observed the characteristic symptoms of Sandifer syndrome. While assisting the child, a rare symptom of apnoea was also observed. Conclusions: The role of the paramedics in diagnosing Sandifer’s syndrome can be crucial. Their experience and knowledge of emergency situations, as well as correctly conducted tests during and immediately after ailment symptoms, can provide medical teams with key information that can help in making a correct diagnosis. The presented framework can be helpful. In the majority of cases, a correct diagnosis leads to the complete cessation of symptoms and lowers the risk of side effects from unnecessarily applied anti-epilepsy medication.

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