Complex partial seizures in children

Ictal manifestations and their relation to clinical course

Yamamoto, N. MD
Watanabe, K. MD
Negoro, T. MD
Takaesu, E. MD
Aso, K. MD
Furune, S. MD
Takahashi, I. MD

Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Yamamoto, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showaku, Nagoya 466, Japan.

Received September 2, 1986. Accepted for publication in final form December 3, 1986.

Neurology 37(8):p 1379-1382, August 1987.

Article abstract

We analyzed complex partial seizures in 38 children aged 0 to 13 years, using simultaneous EEG-VTR recording. In infants, seizure duration was longer, automatisms were less purposeful and more common in the oral area, and convulsive movements were frequently seen and more extensive in comparison with older children. In ictal EEG, spiky components frequently appeared in infants. Parietal or occipital ictal foci were more often associated with mental or physical abnormalities than were frontal or central foci. Extensive convulsive movements were inversely proportional to seizure prognosis in older children. Interictal paroxysmal discharges were observed less frequently in infants.