Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy
10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Etiologic factors and clinical features of symptomatic epilepsy: focus on pediatric cases

Tateki Fujiwara1, Hideo Shigematsu

  • 1National Epilepsy Center, Shizuoka Medical Institute of Neurological Disorders, Shizuoka, Japan. fuji@szec.hosp.go.jp

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|May 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Identifying epilepsy causes in children is crucial. Intracranial infection, cerebral malformation, and perinatal brain damage are key factors in partial and generalized epilepsy, guiding diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
  • Understanding the etiologic factors of epilepsy is essential for effective management, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • This study reviews clinical data from 383 pediatric epilepsy inpatients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and analyze the presumptive etiologic factors of symptomatic epilepsy in children.
  • To differentiate etiologic factors based on epilepsy type (partial vs. generalized) and specific epilepsy syndromes.
  • To highlight recent genetic research in severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective clinical data analysis of 383 pediatric epilepsy inpatients.
  • Categorization of etiologic factors into intracranial infection, cerebral malformation, and perinatal brain damage.
  • Focus on specific epilepsy syndromes, including severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.

Main Results:

  • For partial epilepsy, top etiologic factors include intracranial infection, cerebral malformation, and perinatal brain damage.
  • For generalized epilepsy, top etiologic factors are perinatal brain damage, intracranial infection, and cerebral malformation.
  • Cerebral malformation was most common in frontal lobe epilepsy, initial convulsive status in temporal lobe epilepsy, and perinatal brain damage in occipital lobe epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • Intracranial infection, cerebral malformation, and perinatal brain damage are significant etiologic factors in pediatric epilepsy.
  • Etiologic profiles vary between partial and generalized epilepsy, and by specific epilepsy syndromes.
  • Further research, including genetic studies, is vital for understanding intractable epilepsy syndromes like severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.

More Related Videos

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Identification and Classification of Position-specific GABAA Receptor Subunit Missense Variants for Their Role In Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons08:04

Identification and Classification of Position-specific GABAA Receptor Subunit Missense Variants for Their Role In Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons

Published on: June 6, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...