In a retrospective study the results of therapy in 60 children with so
-called benign partial epilepsies are reported. It has been shown that
the assessment of the therapeutic effect has to include the EEG, espe
cially in epilepsies with atypical course. Carbamazepine has no effect
on the EEG, in epilepsies with atypical course (atypical benign parti
al epilepsy, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, epilepsy with continuous spikes
and waves during slow sleep [CSWS]) carbamazepine usually has no effe
ct either on the seizures or on the EEG, on the contrary, in some case
s both may even get worse. In our experience, the drug of choice in al
l types of benign childhood epilepsy is sulthiame, if necessary in com
bination with clobazam. Other drugs previously administered, including
carbamazepine, should be dropped quickly. if the treatment with sulth
iame or sulthiame/clobazam in children with atypical course is not eff
ective, ACTH-therapy should be considered as soon as possible. These r
esults should be confirmed in a prospective randomized study.