Resumen

MORERA MENDEZ, Fermín et al. Diagnosis of the brief loss of consciousness in primary health care by the physician attending troops. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2006, vol.35, n.1. ISSN 0138-6557.

Brief loss of consciounsness (BLC) is a frequent and difficult problem physicians face at the emergency department and when they work with troops. As the physician should know its causes and the pathophysiological mechanisms provoking such loss, the most frequent causes were reviewed. BLCs were classified taking into account if there had been a fall or not. The clinical features and the frequency of syncopes, epileptic and psychogenic seizures were described as a cause of BLC, as well as their repercussion on the troops. The clinical management of BLC with a high degree of effectiveness by physicians attending troops at the primary health care level is necessary to avoid an inappropriate management of these patients.

Palabras clave : Brief loss of consciousness; syncope; epileptic seizures.