Population study of benign rolandic epilepsy: Is treatment needed?

Forty-three of 79 children (54%) with benign rolandic epilepsy from a regio nal population were treated with antiepileptic drugs (AED); 36 (46%) were n ot. Physician advice was a major determinant of treatment choice. AED signi ficantly reduced generalized seizures (p = 0.001) but did not reduce partia l seizures. After 4 to 14 years and >900 seizures, all patients were in rem ission without medication or injury. Physicians may confidently offer a no- AED treatment strategy.