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Updated: May 8, 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

[A one-year-old male infant with sleep-associated febrile myoclonus]

Michiko Torio1, Masafumi Sanefuji, Toshiro Hara

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Fukuoka Red Cross Hospital, Fukuoka. torio-m@pediatr.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

No to Hattatsu = Brain and Development
|August 20, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Febrile myoclonus, a benign fever-induced neurological symptom, was observed exclusively during sleep in a young child. This case highlights a unique presentation of febrile myoclonus and its resolution with fever reduction.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Febrile myoclonus is a recognized, benign neurological symptom associated with fever, though its underlying physiological mechanisms remain unclear.
  • This condition typically presents as brief, involuntary muscle jerks during febrile illnesses in children.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 1-year-and-7-month-old male experiencing intermittent, whole-body jerks during a high fever secondary to acute otitis media.
  • The myoclonic jerks occurred exclusively during sleep, exceeding 50 episodes over two days, with no observed impairment of consciousness or neurological deficits.

Findings:

  • Neurological examination, blood tests, electroencephalogram (EEG), and brain MRI were all normal, supporting a diagnosis of febrile myoclonus.
  • The patient's myoclonic jerks resolved completely as the fever subsided, with no subsequent neurological sequelae, confirming the benign nature of the episode.

Implications:

  • This case represents the first reported instance of febrile myoclonus occurring solely during sleep.
  • Further research into the relationship between sleep states and the pathophysiology of febrile myoclonus is warranted to elucidate its mechanisms.
  • Understanding this specific presentation may aid in differentiating it from other nocturnal paroxysmal events in febrile children.

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