Intermittent falls and fecal incontinence as a manifestation of epileptic negative myoclonus in idiopathic partial epilepsy of childhood

We report two children, suffering from idiopathic partial epilepsy, who sta rted to present, in the same period of time, with epileptic negative myoclo nus (ENM) in one lower limb and fecal incontinence (FI). Polygraphic record ings showed that ENM was associated with paroxysmal activities distributed over the Vertex region. Both ENM and Fl disappeared when ethosuximide treat ment was started. We hypothesize that, in our patients, ENM in one lower li mb and FI depended on a transitory impairment, caused by epileptic activity that altered the functionality of nearby cortical areas, located in fronto -mesial regions, involved in the control of the muscular tone of the lower limbs and of the pelvic floor muscles.