The Role of Paramedics in Diagnosing Sandifer’s Syndrome

<b>Background:</b> 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. <b>Methods:</b> 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. <b>Results:</b> 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. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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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Publication Details

Journal
Healthcare
Published
2025-04-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080883
Primary Topic
Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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The Role of Paramedics in Diagnosing Sandifer’s Syndrome

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The Role of Paramedics in Diagnosing Sandifer’s Syndrome

Joanna Trojak-Piętka, Michał Ćwiertnia, Marek Kawecki, Wioletta Waksmańska, Michał Wójcik, Tomasz Ilczak, Monika Mikulska, Damian Krysiak, Piotr Babik, Łukasz Suchanek
article en

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> 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. <b>Methods:</b> 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. <b>Results:</b> 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. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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.

HealthcareVol. 13(8)
University of Bielsko-Biała (PL)
Openalex Percentile: Top 88%
Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
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