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Epilepsy/Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Occipital Paroxysms Definition: a benign epilepsy syndrome characterized by frequent occipital spikes often activated by eye closure. It has a seizure semiology that includes visual manifestations; not always remitting later in life.

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Childhood Epilepsy With Occipital Paroxysms and Benign Nocturnal Childhood Occipital Epilepsy Authored by: Alberto Verrotti, MD, PhD Departments of Paediatrics and Neonatology, University of Chieti, Italy, averrott@obelix.unich.it Sergio Domizio, MD Departments of Paediatrics and Neonatology, University of Chieti, Italy Maria Guerra, MD Departments of Paediatrics and Neonatology, University of Chieti, Italy Giuseppe Sabatino, MD Departments of Paediatrics and Neonatology, University of Chieti, Italy Guido Morgese, MD Department of Paediatrics, University of Siena Italy Francesco Chiarelli, MD Departments of Paediatrics and Neonatology, University of Chieti, Italy Abstract Two types of childhood epilepsy have recently been reported: childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms, and benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy. This article reports the clinical evolution, electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, and response to therapy of eight children with childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms (five boys and three girls, aged from 11/12 to 8 years) and eight children with benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy (six boys and two girls, aged from 14/12 to 83/12 years). A careful clinical and EEG follow-up of at least 7 years was carried out for all patients. At the end of follow-up, all but one of the patients with childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms were seizure-free, and only two were still receiving anticonvulsant drugs. All but three children had a normal EEG, and normal mental development was observed in all but two cases. Patients with benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy had a good long-term prognosis; all but two children with benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy had a normal EEG. These two patients showed learning disabilities and poor school performances, and required remedial education. Therefore, although childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms and benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy are two different types of epilepsy, the long-term prognosis seems to be similar. (J Child Neurol 2000;15:218-221).

Benign childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms: neuropsychological findings. Germanò E, Gagliano A, Magazù A, Sferro C, Calarese T, Mannarino E, Calamoneri F. SourceDivision of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Messina, Gazzi-Messina, Italy.

Abstract Benign childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms is classified among childhood benign partial epilepsies. The absence of neurological and neuropsychological deficits has long been considered as a prerequisite for a diagnosis of benign childhood partial epilepsy. Much evidence has been reported in literature in the latest years suggesting a neuropsychological impairment in this type of epilepsy, particularly in the type with Rolandic paroxysms. The present work examines the neuropsychological profiles of a sample of subjects affected by the early-onset benign childhood occipital seizures (EBOS) described by Panayotopulos. The patient group included 22 children (14 males and 8 females; mean age 10.1+/-3.3 years) diagnosed as having EBOS. The patients were examined with a set of tests investigating neuropsychological functions: memory, attention, perceptive, motor, linguistic and academic (reading, writing, arithmetic) abilities. The same instruments have been given to a homogeneous control group as regards sex, age, level of education and socio-economic background. None of the subjects affected by EBOS showed intellectual deficit (mean IQ in Wechsler Full Scale 91.7; S.D. 8.9). Results show a widespread cognitive dysfunction in the context of a focal epileptogenic process in EBOS. In particular, children with EBOS show a significant occurrence of specific learning disabilities (SLD) and other subtle neuropsychological deficits. We found selective dysfunctions relating to perceptive-visual attentional ability (p<0.05), verbal and visual-spatial memory abilities (p<0.01), visual perception and visual-motor integration global abilities (p<0.01), manual dexterity tasks (p<0.05), some language tasks (p<0.05), reading and writing abilities (p<0.01) and arithmetic ability (p<0.01). The presence of cognitive dysfunctions in subjects with EBOS supports the hypothesis that epilepsy itself plays a role in the development of neuropsychological impairment. Supported by other studies that have documented subtle neuropsychological deficits in benign partial epilepsy, we stress the importance of reconsidering its supposed "cognitive benignity", particularly in occipital types.

PMID:15941650[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]