IDIOPATHIC EPILEPSIES WITH GENERALIZED SEIZURES OF EARLY-CHILDHOOD

Idiopathic epilepsies with generalized seizures of early childhood are based on a genetic predisposition. The onset takes place between the first and fifth years of age, boys are affected more often than girls. Dependant on the clinical symptomatology you have to distinguish . myoclonic seizures . atonic-astatic seizures . myoclonic-astatic seizures . absences . tonic-clonic seizures. In more than half of the cases a combination of these seizures can be observed. The differentiation of epilepsies with generalized seizures of multifocal origin (infantile spasms, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Pseudo-Lennox syndrome [atypical benign epilepsy]) may be difficult but is essential. Therapy of choice is valproate, often in combination with ethosuximide (in children with minor seizures) or with kaliumbromide or phenobarbital (in children with tonic-clonic seizures). Generally the prognosis is more unfavourable if epilepsy starts in the first year of life with afebrile and febrile generalized tonic-clonic or clonic seizures, if children are suffering from longlasting states of seizures and if developement is disturbed before beginning of epilepsy.