Lesson of the week: Benign sleep myoclonus in infancy mistaken for epilepsy

摘要: Benign sleep myoclonus in infancy is a distinctive but underdiagnosed disorder of quiet sleep, which according to our findings occurs from the first day life up age 3 years. Its main features are rhythmic myoclonic jerks when drowsy or asleep, stop if child woken, and normal encephalograms during after episodes. 1 2 When all these present diagnosis should be clear cut. The may difficult association with not noted no attempt made “seizures” by waking child. We report on15 patients whom benign was initially mistaken for epilepsy. All were referred five year period 1996–2001 investigation treatment prolonged “seizures”; some had been given anticonvulsants, without effect. table summarises clinical details patients. ### Illustrative case A 14 old boy (case 1; see table) admitted emergency helicopter transfer. In previous week he several episodes what assumed status epilepticus failed respond rectal intravenous diazepam. Phenobarbitone then phenytoin added seizures continued. reached hospital having generalised movements one hour. He receiving three anticonvulsants high doses. After “seizure” ceased …