Generalized Seizure Masquerading the Cause of Coma

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis is traditionally made by taking a medical history and performing a medical examination. These have become less useful in contemporary emergency and critical care medicine.  Objective: The objective was to show the importance of obtaining the medical history and re-evaluating it in medical emergencies for diagnosis and management.  Methods and Materials: In our instance, a female patient, age 22, was taken to the emergency room by her parents when she was unconscious and exhibiting tonic posture in all limbs. Due to our insufficient medical history, we ended up doing unnecessary and expensive investigations. The re- evaluation of the patient played a crucial role in diagnosis and management.  Results: The patient's re-evaluation to obtain a proper medical history revealed the actual cause of unconsciousness in our case, which led to proper management.  Conclusion: Our case showed the importance of obtaining a medical history in a medical emergency.  Key message: In cases of unconsciousness or other medical emergencies, taking a proper medical history and conducting a clinical examination are crucial. A re- evaluation of the patient helps in taking a proper medical history. It helps in proper diagnosis and management.