Loss of consciousness in childhood may be due to cardiovascular causes, and the 
Long Q-T syndromes can present with seizures. The Romano-Ward syndrome is of 
autosomal dominant inheritance, and the Jervell and Lange-Nielson syndrome, with 
associated deafness, of autosomal recessive inheritance. The diagnosis is often 
delayed, but a careful history can avoid this. The syndromes can appear to be 
due to an imbalance in the sympathetic nerve to the ventricular myocardium, and 
precipitating causes such as stress suggest a CNS influence on this. The 
electrocardiogram can confirm the prolonged Q-T interval, but this is not always 
present, at least without an exercise test. Treatment with beta-blockers is 
often successful. If a wrong diagnosis of epilepsy is made a chance may be 
missed of avoiding sudden death, quite apart from all the medical, and social 
consequences that can result from such a diagnosis.