Senior neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar of Apollo Hospital, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, recently highlighted an unusual medical case that underscores the complexities of diagnosing epilepsy. Writing on X, he described the experience of a 12-year-old boy, referred to as Master Rahul (name altered), from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
For months, Rahul’s parents were bewildered by his behavior during mealtimes. Almost every time he began dinner, he would abruptly stop chewing, stare into space, twitch his lips, and place his head on the table. After a few minutes, he would resume eating normally, as if nothing unusual had occurred. Believing these episodes to be playful defiance or ways to avoid certain foods, his family initially dismissed them as mere tantrums.
From Headaches to Neurological Clues
The situation escalated when Rahul began experiencing intense headaches once or twice a week. The pain hampered his studies and disrupted his sports activities, prompting his parents to seek medical advice. At first glance, the symptoms suggested migraine. However, during the detailed history-taking, his parents mentioned his strange mealtime episodes. That incidental remark proved to be the turning point.
According to Dr. Kumar, the clinical picture immediately suggested eating epilepsy—a rare reflex epilepsy where seizures are provoked by the act of chewing or swallowing.
Dr Sudhir Kumar has more than two decades of experience in neurosciences and has done his MD (internal medicine) and DM (neurology) from CMC Vellore.
Confirming the Diagnosis
To establish clarity, Dr. Kumar first ordered an electroencephalogram (EEG), which revealed abnormal brain electrical activity. To further validate the suspicion, a video EEG was performed while Rahul was eating. The findings confirmed the diagnosis: the boy was indeed experiencing seizures triggered by meals. An MRI scan of the brain ruled out any structural abnormalities.
With a confirmed diagnosis, Rahul was started on appropriate anti-seizure medication, along with therapy for his migraines. Within a month, his headaches had greatly diminished, and he could once again enjoy his meals without interruption. Six months later, Rahul had fully regained normalcy, engaging in academics, play, and family meals without fear. His parents expressed immense relief, while Rahul himself was delighted that the dinner table was no longer associated with anxiety.
Understanding Eating Epilepsy
The Indian Journal of Medical Specialities notes that Eating Epilepsy (EE) is an uncommon type of reflex epilepsy, where seizures are provoked by food intake. While its prevalence is comparatively higher in South Asia, globally it remains rare, accounting for only 0.05% to 0.1% of all epilepsy cases.
Most patients exhibit focal seizures with impaired awareness, sometimes progressing to secondary generalization. On rare occasions, the condition may present as generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Though each individual tends to display consistent patterns, the condition’s manifestations vary significantly between patients.
For months, Rahul’s parents were bewildered by his behavior during mealtimes. Almost every time he began dinner, he would abruptly stop chewing, stare into space, twitch his lips, and place his head on the table. After a few minutes, he would resume eating normally, as if nothing unusual had occurred. Believing these episodes to be playful defiance or ways to avoid certain foods, his family initially dismissed them as mere tantrums.
From Headaches to Neurological Clues
The situation escalated when Rahul began experiencing intense headaches once or twice a week. The pain hampered his studies and disrupted his sports activities, prompting his parents to seek medical advice. At first glance, the symptoms suggested migraine. However, during the detailed history-taking, his parents mentioned his strange mealtime episodes. That incidental remark proved to be the turning point.
When Dinner Turned into Seizures: A Rare Case of Eating Epilepsy
— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) September 3, 2025
Twelve-year-old Master Rahul (name changed) from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, had been puzzling his parents for months. Almost every time he sat down for dinner, he would suddenly stop eating, stare blankly, twitch… pic.twitter.com/4tfAzwIp2I
According to Dr. Kumar, the clinical picture immediately suggested eating epilepsy—a rare reflex epilepsy where seizures are provoked by the act of chewing or swallowing.
Dr Sudhir Kumar has more than two decades of experience in neurosciences and has done his MD (internal medicine) and DM (neurology) from CMC Vellore.
Confirming the Diagnosis
To establish clarity, Dr. Kumar first ordered an electroencephalogram (EEG), which revealed abnormal brain electrical activity. To further validate the suspicion, a video EEG was performed while Rahul was eating. The findings confirmed the diagnosis: the boy was indeed experiencing seizures triggered by meals. An MRI scan of the brain ruled out any structural abnormalities.
With a confirmed diagnosis, Rahul was started on appropriate anti-seizure medication, along with therapy for his migraines. Within a month, his headaches had greatly diminished, and he could once again enjoy his meals without interruption. Six months later, Rahul had fully regained normalcy, engaging in academics, play, and family meals without fear. His parents expressed immense relief, while Rahul himself was delighted that the dinner table was no longer associated with anxiety.
Understanding Eating Epilepsy
The Indian Journal of Medical Specialities notes that Eating Epilepsy (EE) is an uncommon type of reflex epilepsy, where seizures are provoked by food intake. While its prevalence is comparatively higher in South Asia, globally it remains rare, accounting for only 0.05% to 0.1% of all epilepsy cases.
Most patients exhibit focal seizures with impaired awareness, sometimes progressing to secondary generalization. On rare occasions, the condition may present as generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Though each individual tends to display consistent patterns, the condition’s manifestations vary significantly between patients.
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