Alice in Wonderland Syndrome in a Child with an Electroencephalographic Abnormality: A Case Report / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

Alice in wonderland syndrome (AWS) is a paroxysmal disorder with distorted body image, including altered perceptions of size, mass, or shape. In fact, altered body image is the classic symptom of AWS. However, young children and adolescents younger than 15 years with AWS usually show visual symptoms, including micropsia or teleopsia. The most common visual symptom with AWS is micropsia. There are several theories of the etiology of AWS, the most popular of which is migraine. The second most frequently mentioned etiologic theory of AWS is that it is infection-induced. Finally, abnormal brain electrical activity, such as epilepsy, is another possible cause of AWS. We herein report a case of 9-year-old boy who was admitted with visual disturbances characterized by microteleopsia and pelopsia. He denied headache, but his mother had a history of migraine. His general physical examination was unremarkable. Brain magnetic resonance imaging did not show any abnormal findings, but an electroencephalogram showed abnormal discharges. The patient was prescribed an antiepileptic drug, which improved his symptoms.