Confusional state as first symptom of HaNDL syndrome

HaNDL (transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis) syndrome is an infrequent condition included at group 7 “headache attributed to non-vascular intracranial disorder” in the recent International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), code 7.3.5. The description states “migraine-like headache episodes (typically 1–12) accompanied by neurological deficits including hemiparaesthesia, hemiparesis and/or dysphasia, but positive visual symptoms only uncommonly, lasting several hours. There is lymphocytic pleocytosis. The disorder resolves spontaneously within 3 months”. In this description confusional state is not considered as a main symptom, even if in the literature this aspect is frequently reported. Here, we report the cases of two young boys presenting with confusional state as the main complaint. The possible pathogenesis of the different clinical presentation is discussed.