ABSTRACT

It is well-recognized that age comprises one of the main parameters in the classification of epileptic syndromes. This study sought for possible clinical and electroencephalographic features of apparently benign partial epilepsies with an onset in a relatively short but considerably important period of development, i.e. preadolescence (10-14 years of age). Sixty-six patients (29 girls, 37 boys) with seizures of partial onset in early adolescence were included. Frequency of seizures in a year with or without treatment was two or less. All the patients were under follow-up for at least a year. The study group was evaluated with regard to sex distribution, age of seizure onset, seizure pattern and duration, frequency of seizures before therapy, distribution of seizures during the day and throughout the sleep-wake cycle, precipitating factors, findings of neurological examination, interictal EEG, and cranial radiological imaging modalities, and response to therapy. Results indicated a high incidence for brief, diurnal simple partial motor seizures which often were secondarily generalized and precipitated by various conditions. Time of seizure onset showed a predominance for the early years (10-12 yrs.). The most often encountered features in the patients' medical history and the family history were the presence of febrile convulsions and epilepsy, respectively. Initial EEG findings showed no significant correlation with the prognoses.