Childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms and benign nocturnal childhoodoccipital epilepsy

Two types of childhood epilepsy have recently been reported: childhood epil epsy with occipital paroxysms, and benign nocturnal childhood occipital epi lepsy. This article reports the clinical evolution, electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, and response to therapy of eight children with childhood ep ilepsy with occipital paroxysms (five boys and three girls, aged from 1 1/1 2 to 8 years) and eight children with benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy (six boys and two girls, aged from 1 4/12, 8 3/12 years). A carefu l clinical and EEG follow-up of at least 7 years was carried out for all pa tients. At the end of follow-up, all but one of the patients with childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms were seizure-free, and only two were sti ll receiving anticonvulsant drugs. Ail but three children had a normal EEG, and normal mental development was observed in all but two cases. Patients with benign nocturnal childhood occipital epilepsy had a good long-term pro gnosis all but two children with benign nocturnal childhood occipital epile psy had a normal EEG. These two patients showed learning disabilities and p oor school performances, and required remedial education. Therefore, althou gh childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms and benign nocturnal childho od occipital epilepsy are two different types of epilepsy, the long-term pr ognosis seems to be similar.