Introduction. Paroxismal events can resemble epileptic seizures, however,
some epileptic seizures, especially benign occipital childhood epilepsies can
imitate migraine, cycling vomiting or encephalitis. Objective. The aim of
this study was evaluation of clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG)
features and outcome in children with benign occipital childhood epilepsies.
Methods. Investigation included 18 patients with benign occipital childhood
epilepsies hospitalized in the period from 2007 to 2010. The diagnosis was
based on clinical and EEG characteristics of seizures, while treatment
included acute therapy for seizures and chronic antiepileptic drugs.
Prognosis was analyzed in terms of neurological outcome and seizure
recurrence rate. Results. Benign occipital childhood epilepsy with early
onset was diagnosed in 15 children. Vegetative symptoms, mostly ictal
vomiting (13), eye deviation and loss of consciousness (13) dominated in the
clinical presentation. The most frequent EEG findings showed occipital
epileptic discharges. Benign occipital childhood epilepsy with late onset was
diagnosed in three cases. Seizures were manifested by visual hallucinations,
headache and secondary generalized convulsions. All three patients were
administered chronic antiepileptic drugs and had good outcome. Conclusion. In
our patients, clinical manifestations of benign occipital epilepsies had some
similarities with clinical features of migraine and encephalitis. It could
explain misdiagnosis in some of them. Knowledge about main features and
differences between each of these disorders is crucial for making appropriate
diagnosis.
Prolonged epileptic discharges predict seizure recurrence in JME: Insights from prolonged ambulatory EEG