The frequency of non-epileptic spells in children: results of video-EEG monitoring in a tertiary care center.
BACKGROUND
the diagnosis of non-epileptic spells (NES) in children can be challenging, even for experienced clinicians. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of such events.


METHODS
this was a retrospective study conducted from January 2004 to December 2006. Inclusion criteria were age >1 month and <18 years and the diagnosis of NES established by video-EEG monitoring.


RESULTS
among 746 monitored children (1203 recorded video-EEG sessions), 109 (14.6%) had NES. The mean age of patients with NES was 6.6 years (range 0.1-18). Seventy patients were diagnosed with NES alone; the remaining 39 with both NES and epilepsy. Developmental delay was more frequent among patients with a co-morbid diagnosis of epilepsy (p<0.001). Similar clinical events were reported in both of these groups, save for crying spells/irritability which was more common in children with epilepsy. Frequent manifestations of NES included staring spells in preschool children, crying/irritability, tremor and eye deviation in young children and preschoolers, and limb shaking in adolescents. All of the patients with epilepsy and 19 (27%) of those without epilepsy were receiving antiepileptic drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
our data highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis of NES toward the appropriate treatment of affected children.
Montenegro
Maria A
MA
Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy, Columbia University College of Physician & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Sproule
Douglas
D
Mandel
Arthur
A
Cappell
Joshua
J
Chiriboga
Claudia A
CA
Jacob
Susan
S
Eck
Karen
K
Patterson
Marc C
MC
Akman
Cigdem I
CI
D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014741:Video Recording