[The Alice in Wonderland syndrome].

BACKGROUND

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is characterised by abnormal perception, such as metamorphopsia, macropsia, micropsia, teleopsia and pelopsia. Although brief and transient, these episodes of visual distortion may lead to great anxiety, especially in children. AIWS seems to be associated with specific viral infections, epilepsy, migraine, and brain tumours.

CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old boy had episodes of seeing persons further away than they actually were (teleopsia). These perceptual distortions occurred when he was about to go to sleep. The episodes never exceeded 10 minutes. He was referred to a paediatrician and an ophthalmologist, who found no abnormalities. Serological tests showed a positive IgG for both Epstein-Barr and varicella zoster virus.

CONCLUSION

The cause of AIWS is unclear. When occurring in the young patient, parents often become worried. In most cases no serious pathological cause is found. Usually, reassurance is sufficient. Therefore, general practitioners should be able to recognise the symptoms.