Periodic Lateralized Epileptiform Discharges in Children

Abstract

Thirteen children in whom electroencephalography revealed periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges in the acute phase of cerebral involvement were included in this study. Four were diagnosed as having influenza-associated encephalopathy, two nonherpetic limbic encephalitis, two theophylline-associated seizures, one Mycoplasma pneumoniae encephalitis, one acute encephalopathy, and one bacterial meningitis. All patients developed seizures; six developed hemiconvulsions. As to prognosis, two died, six had some neurologic sequelae, and five had no neurologic sequelae. Although periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges are not disease specific, the importance of these disorders had not been focused on as a cause of periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges. ( J Child Neurol 2003;18:803—805).