View source for Benign Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy

==Background==
* One of the idiopathic generalized epilepsies
* 1% to 2% of epilepsies that start before the age of 3 years
* Seizures start between 0.5 and 3 years of age in developmentally normal children. However, some cases have a later onset up to 4 years
* A family history of febrile seizures and epilepsy is often reported
* Remission usually occurs within 1 year (6 months to 5 years) from onset.
* The outcome is generally benign. In rare cases, myoclonic epilepsy such as [[Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy]] may follow Benign Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy

==Clinic==
* Myoclonic jerks involving mostly the upper part of the body, singular or clusters
* Consciousness is normally intact 
* Photosensitivity in 20% of the patients 
* Unexpected acoustic or tactile stimuli can elicit a the myoclonic jerks in 10%.

==Treatment==
* valproic acid was effective in 23 of 30 treated patients <ref>Auvin, S. , Pandit, F. , De Bellecize et al, Benign Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infants: Electroclinical Features and Long‐term Follow‐up of 34 Patients. Epilepsia, 2006 47: 387-393. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00433.x</ref>
* Patients with acoustic and somatosensory evoked myoclonic seizures may not need treatment. 

==EEG==
* '''Inter-ictal''': Sometimes generalized [[Spike slow wave complex]] or [[Polyspikes slow wave complex]]
* '''Ictal''': Brief generalized [[Spike slow wave complex]] or [[Polyspikes slow wave complex]]
* During sleep in most of the patients the myoclonic seizures persists
* Sometimes photosensitivity
* Normal background rhythm
* Electromyogram show one or repetitive myoclonia


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'''''5 year old girl with 3 Hz generelized polyspike waves and myoclonic jerks (double banana and EMG on deltoid muscle)'''''
[[File:5_year_old_girl_with_3_Hz_generelized_polyspike_waves_and_myoclonic_jerks_(double_banana_and_EMG_on_deltoid_muscle)_EEGpedia.png|border|none|1200px|left]]


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'''Notes'''
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