What symptom alongside syncope may indicate a seizure?

The presence of a tongue bite wound alongside syncope is indicative of a seizure for several reasons. During a seizure, particularly tonic-clonic (formerly known as grand mal) seizures, individuals may experience involuntary muscle contractions. This can lead to spasms of the jaw, resulting in the person inadvertently biting their own tongue. This type of injury is a classic sign that distinguishes a seizure from other causes of syncope.

While altered mental status can accompany both seizures and syncope, it is not exclusive to seizures and may not provide clear differentiation. Chest pain and nausea are also nonspecific and could be associated with various medical conditions but lack direct correlation with seizures. Therefore, the tongue bite wound serves as a more definitive marker that, when present with syncope, suggests a seizure rather than other potential causes.