Headache and Idiopathic Epilepsy

J Gordon Millichap

doi:10.15844/pedneurbriefs-25-9-3

Abstract

Clinical characteristics of headache in 1,264 children with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy were studied from 2006 to 2009 in five Italian Child Neurology University Centers.

Highlights

Clinical characteristics of headache in 1,264 children with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy were studied from 2006 to 2009 in five Italian Child Neurology University Centers
Comorbidities or presentations included electrical status epilepticus in slow waves sleep (ESES) in 9 (4.6%) patients, Landau-Kleffner syndrome in 4 (2%), benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BCECTS) with frequent refractory seizures in 3 (1.5%), BCECTS with falls in 2 (1%), atypical variant in 1 (0.5%), and oromotor dysfunction in 1 (0.5%)
Migraine without aura was most commonly associated with partial epilepsy, and occurred in 82% patients with peri-ictal headache and in 76.5% patients with post-ictal headache

Summary

Introduction

Clinical characteristics of headache in 1,264 children with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy were studied from 2006 to 2009 in five Italian Child Neurology University Centers. The frequency of atypical features among 196 patients (118 male and 78 female; mean age at diagnosis 7.64 years, range 1.5-14) with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BCECTS) was determined by a retrospective chart study in four pediatric neurology outpatient clinics in Israel between the years 1991 and 2008. Comorbidities or presentations included electrical status epilepticus in slow waves sleep (ESES) in 9 (4.6%) patients, Landau-Kleffner syndrome in 4 (2%), BCECTS with frequent refractory seizures in 3 (1.5%), BCECTS with falls in 2 (1%), atypical variant in 1 (0.5%), and oromotor dysfunction in 1 (0.5%).

Results

Conclusion