Warnings regarding fireworks displays as a possible seizure-producing stimulus have been around for several years, but there is a lack of well-documented cases. This case describes photic- and/or pattern-induced seizures that appeared to be triggered by July 4 fireworks. This 8-year-old girl with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and known seizure disorder because of perinatal right middle cerebral artery stroke had a cluster of seizures within minutes of the onset of a professional fireworks display. The seizures stopped when the child’s eyes were covered and she was taken away from the scene. The importance of photic- and pattern-induced seizures in children is discussed.
Lu Y., Waltz S., Stenzel K., et al. Photosensitivity in epileptic syndromes of childhood and adolescence . Epileptic Disord. 2008;10: 136-143.
2.
Fisher RS, Harding G., Erba G., et al. Photic- and pattern-induced seizures: a review for the epilepsy foundation of america working group. Epilepsia. 2005;46:1426-1441.
3.
Brinciotti M. , Matricardi M., Pelliccia A., Trasatti G.Pattern sensitivity and photosensitivity in epileptic children with visually induced seizures . Epilepsia . 1994;35:842-849.
4.
Rickey T., Erba G.Damping the odds that fireworks will spark seizures. http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=1581. Accessed August 2, 2010.
5.
Harding GFA , Harding PFTelevised material and photosensitive epilepsy . Epilepsia . 1999;40:65-69.
6.
Harding GFA , Edson A., Jeavons PMPersistence of photosensitivity. Epilepsia. 1997;38:663-669.
7.
Leijten FSS , Dekker E., Spekreijse DGA , et al. Light diffusion in photosensitive epilepsy . Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1998;106:387-391.
8.
Hishikawa Y. , Yamamoto J., Furuya E., et al. Photosensitive epilepsy: relationships between the visual evoked responses and the epileptiform discharges induced by intermittent photic stimulation. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1967;23: 320-334.
Ishida S., Yamashita Y., Matsuishi T., et al. Photosensitive seizures provoked while viewing ‘‘pocket monsters,’’ a made-for-television animation program in japan. Epilepsia. 1998;39: 1340-1344.
11.
Takada H., Aso K., Watanabe K., et al. Epileptic seizures induced by animated cartoon, ‘‘pocket monster.’’ Epilepsia. 1999;40:997-1002.
12.
World Wide Web Consortium.Web content accessibility guidlines (WCAG) 2.0. 2008; http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/#seizure . Accessed August 25, 2010.
13.
Pokemon seizure moment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOG-HKjp5h0. Accessed August 4, 2010.
14.
Banned pot noodle advert - ace of spades. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs0WCUZqoJg. Accessed August 4, 2010.
Takahashi Y. , Sato T., Goto K., et al. Optical filters inhibiting television-induced photosensitive seizures. Neurology . 2001;57: 1767-1773.
21.
Capovilla G. , Beccaria F., Romeo A., et al. Effectiveness of a particular blue lens on photoparaxysmal response in photosensitive epileptic patients. Ital J Neurol Sci. 1999;20:161-166.
Kepecs MR, Boro A., Haut S., et al. A novel nonpharmacologic treatment for photosensitive epilepsy: a report of three patients tested with blue cross-polarized glasses. Epilepsia. 2004;45: 1158-1162.
24.
Harding GFA , Herrick CE, Jeavons PMA controlled study of the effect of sodium valproate on photosensitive epilepsy and its prognosis . Epilepsia . 1978;19:555-565.
25.
Saenz-Lope E., Herranz-Tanarro FJ, Masdeu JC, Bufil J.Familial photosensitive epilepsy: effectiveness of clonazepam. Clin Electroencephalogr . 1984;15:47-52.
26.
Engel J.A proposed diagnostic scheme for people with epileptic seizures and epilepsy: report of the ILAE task force on classification and terminology . Epilepsia. 2001;42:796-803.
