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Malaysian children with: "benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes"
1Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
Benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECT) is a common genetic epilepsy in Malaysian children, primarily affecting those under 13. Seizures predominantly occur during sleep, with generalized seizures being more frequent.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Clinical Genetics
Background:
- Benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECT) is a well-recognized epilepsy syndrome.
- Understanding its prevalence and characteristics in diverse populations is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence, clinical features, and demographic distribution of BECT in Malaysian children.
- To characterize the seizure patterns and age of onset in this specific population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of EEG records from University Hospital over a 3-year period (April 1989 - April 1992).
- Identification of 21 children diagnosed with BECT.
- Data collection on age of onset, seizure frequency, seizure type, circadian rhythm, and ethnic distribution.
Main Results:
- BECT was identified in 4.8% of epileptic children studied.
- Observed in Chinese, Malay, and Indian children in a 10:6:5 ratio.
- Age of onset ranged from 2-13 years, with seizures mainly occurring during sleep.
- Generalized seizures were more common than partial seizures.
Conclusions:
- BECT is a significant genetic epilepsy in Malaysian children, presenting with characteristic nocturnal seizures.
- The study highlights the autosomal dominant inheritance with age-dependent penetrance of BECT.
- Co-existence of petit mal with BECT EEG trait was noted in a small subset of patients.
Abstract:
Benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECT) was studied in Malaysian children, and was observed in Chinese, Malay and Indian children in the ratio 10:6:5. There were 12 boys and 9 girls. Fit frequency varied from almost daily to a single fit. The age of onset ranged from 2-13 years and BECT was not noted in any child over 13 years old. There was a strong circadian rhythm and fits occurred mainly in sleep. Generalised seizures were more common than partial seizures. During the 3-year study from April 1989 to April 1992, 21 children with BECT were identified from the EEG records done at the University Hospital and it was found that this genetic epilepsy which is autosomal dominant with age dependent penetrance occurs in approximately 4.8% of our epileptic children. In addition there were 3 children in whom petit mal co-existed with a BECT EEG trait.