Korean J Pediatr.  2007 Aug;50(8):726-731. 10.3345/kjp.2007.50.8.726.

Non-epileptic paroxysmal events during sleep: Differentiation from epileptic seizures

• Lee IK

• KMID: 2279192
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2007.50.8.726

Abstract

This review describes the wide spectrum of paroxysmal events during sleep in infancy and childhood. The differential diagnosis between sleep-related non-epileptic paroxysmal events and epileptic seizures is difficult in special occasions. The nocturnal frontal lobe seizure and of the more common non- epileptic paroxysmal events during sleep are described. The main differentiating features characterizing parasomnias are: onset in early childhood, rare episodes of long duration, relatively lower frequency per night, absence of stereotypy, gradual disappearance of older age. Video-polysomnography is the gold standard to diagnosing and differentiating parasomnias from nocturnal frontal lobe seizures.

Keyword

Childhood parasomnias; Frontal lobe seizures; Arousal disorders; Sleep terror; Somambulism; Sleep; Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy; Childhood epilepsy; Differential diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Epilepsy*
Frontal Lobe
Night Terrors
Parasomnias
Seizures