Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
09:57
Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
[Epilepsy with polymorphic seizures in hospitalized children]
Marek Kaciński1, Sławomir Kroczka, Anna Zajac
1Klinika Neurologii Dzieciecej, P-A Instytutu Pediatrii Wydziału Lekarskiego, Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, Kraków. neupedkr@cm-uj.krakow.pl
Przeglad Lekarski
|March 4, 2006
Summary
Epilepsy with polymorphic seizures affects nearly 5% of hospitalized children, often starting in infancy. While some treatments are effective, many children experience intellectual impairment, highlighting the complexity of this epilepsy type.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Epilepsy with polymorphic seizures presents with diverse seizure types, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly in children.
- This condition is a heterogeneous group with varied etiologies, clinical courses, and prognoses in developmental age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and significance of epilepsy with polymorphic seizures in hospitalized children.
- To characterize the epilepsy type, syndrome, seizure types, and pharmacological treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 58 children with epilepsy and polymorphic seizures hospitalized between 1998 and 2004.
- Diagnostic tools included MRI, CT, EEG, and video-EEG.
Main Results:
- Children with polymorphic seizures constituted 4.8% of epilepsy hospitalizations, predominantly infants and preschoolers.
- Early encephalopathies and ceroidolipofuscinosis were common causes; myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures were most frequent.
- Valproate and vigabatrin achieved seizure freedom in 43%; only 33% had normal intellectual development.
Conclusions:
- Epilepsy with polymorphic seizures is a significant and heterogeneous condition in developmental epileptology.
- Intellectual impairment was common, etiology remained unknown in half the cases, and complete seizure control was achieved in less than 50%.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Epilepsy 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.
01:13Seizures: 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:
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:
01:20Seizures 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,...
01:24Epilepsy 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...
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:19Seizures ll: Types
Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...