Epileptiform Patterns of Children

Abstract

Infants and children display almost the entire range of interictal and ictal epileptiform patterns, exclusive of those seen in the neonatal period. This paper reviews patterns seen in the idiopathic and secondary forms of epilepsies, both generalized and partial, as well as periodic patterns and benign epileptiform variants as they appear in childhood. The discussion focuses on interictal activities, the abnormalities most commonly seen in the EEG laboratory. Special attention is paid to differential diagnostic features; the distinctions between significant epileptiform patterns and normal background features of the maturing child's EEG can be particularly challenging. A large number of illustrations are provided to demonstrate not only the classic epileptiform patterns but also many of the less typical presentations, since children's EEGs show a greater number of atypical waveforms.