A REWARDING PURSUIT OF CERTAINTY

Stage A 53-year-old, previously healthy college professor was brought to the emergency room in status epilepticus. He had no history of seizures. Response After giving intravenous medication to stop the seizures, I would obtain some medical and social history. Does the patient have hypertension or underlying vascular disease? Is he a drinker or a user of recreational drugs? These days we must always keep the possibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in mind. Stage Three weeks earlier he had seen his physician for new bifrontal headaches that were relieved with aspirin. His physical examination was normal at that time… © 1993, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.