Child Neurology: Transient Global Amnesia Precipitated by a Valsalva Maneuver in an Adolescent.
Emilie Groulx-Boivin, Leena Toban, Lucia Carpineta et al.
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Case in brief
A 16-year-old boy with no prior health issues experienced acute anterograde amnesia following a Valsalva maneuver during a school video. He exhibited repetitive questioning and mild retrograde amnesia, with symptoms resolving spontaneously after about 9 hours. Neurological examination post-episode was normal, and imaging studies revealed a hypoplastic left transverse sinus but no thrombosis, leading to a diagnosis of transient global amnesia (TGA).
What made this case unusual
This case is notable for the occurrence of transient global amnesia in a pediatric patient, which is rarely reported, especially following a Valsalva maneuver, a common trigger in adults.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider transient global amnesia in the differential diagnosis of acute anterograde amnesia in children, especially when identifiable triggers like Valsalva maneuvers are present.
Why it matters
This case emphasizes the potential overlap of TGA triggers between adults and children, highlighting the need for awareness of this condition in younger populations.