CLASSIFICATION OF EPILEPSIES AND EPILEPTIC SYNDROMES IN A CHILD NEUROLOGY UNIT

We attempted to classify according to the 1989 International Classific ation of Epilepsies and Epileptic Syndromes, 1076 patients examined du ring a 4-year period (1 January 1988 to 31 December 1991) in the Child Neurology Unit. We aimed to determine the proportion of the clearly d efined epileptic syndromes or the non-specific categories of the Inter national Classification of Epilepsies and Epileptic Syndromes, to esti mate the relative incidence of different categories and to review the criteria for defining epileptic syndromes. The proportion in categorie s as defined by the International Classification of Epilepsies and Epi leptic Syndromes in our patients was as follows. Localization-related epilepsies and syndromes:idiopathic 3.15%, symptomatic 17%, cryptogeni c 9.20%. Generalized epilepsies and syndromes:idiopathic 20.35%, crypt ogenic or symptomatic 14.68%, symptomatic 11.5%. Epilepsies unequivoca l focal or generalized features 1.68%. Special syndromes:situation-rel ated seizures:febrile convulsions 12.83%, isolated seizures or isolate d status epilepticus 1.02%, seizures due to an acute toxic or metaboli c event 1.20%. The presence of non-specific categories in the Internat ional Classification of Epilepsies and Epileptic Syndrome enables the categorization of all patients by it gives the false impression of dia gnostic precision to what are essentially uncertain cases.