A Case Report of Narcolepsy with Partial Cataplexy Misdiagnosed as Epilepsy
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Case Report

A Case Report of Narcolepsy with Partial Cataplexy Misdiagnosed as Epilepsy

J Turk Sleep Med 2015;2(1):22-24 DOI: 10.4274/jtsm.02.006
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Abstract

Cataplexy is present in 70% of narcolepsy patients; narcolepsy with cataplexy is now named as narcolepsy type 1 in recent classification of sleep disorders. Cataplexy is defined as short lasting decrease or loss of muscle tone. Here we present a 9-year-old girl misdiagnosed as epilepsy due to distortion in her face but diagnosed to have narcolepsy type 1 and partial cataplexy. In detail questioning, loss of muscle tone in her facial muscles and facial distortion occurred for a short time upon tiredness and in association with daytime sleepiness without any unconsciousness. No response was observed with antiepileptic agents, but they totally resolved upon administration of anticataplectic therapy.

Keywords: Narcolepsy type 1, cataplexy, cataplectic face