Shaking body attacks: a new type of benign non-epileptic attack in infancy

Non-epileptic attacks represent a heterogeneous group of clinical entities which frequently pose a challenge for the differential diagnosis of epilepsy. This is particularly the case when motor manifestations are the main clinical features. For the large majority of patients, such motor manifestations have a benign course. A correct diagnosis is important to avoid inappropriate investigations, unnecessary therapy, and parental anxiety. Here, a previously unreported form of non-epileptic attacks with infantile onset is described which is different from all subtypes of Fejerman syndrome and does not appear to be uncommon. Our series includes 23 patients with an age at onset of the paroxysmal events ranging from 3 to 8 months. The characteristic feature is side-to-side shaking movements of the trunk and limbs. Surprisingly, urinary infection is often a false diagnosis. Home video recording is particularly helpful in recognising the nature of these episodes once their existence is known. [Published with video sequences].