Nocturnal acute laryngospasm in children: A possible epileptic phenomenon

Respiratory difficulties are not uncommon during epileptic activity in all age groups. Laryngospasm, as an isolated manifestation of epileptic disorde r, is a rare phenomenon described previously in only two patients. We repor t our experience with five children in whom nocturnal laryngospasm was the only clinical manifestation of their epileptic disorder. All children under went extensive work up and the diagnosis was made by sleep-deprived electro encephalography (two cases) and sleep study (three cases). All patients wer e treated with carbamezapine with prompt resolution of their laryngospasm.