Benign epilepsy of childhood: a speculation and its ramifications

Pediatrics. 1987 Jun;79(6):864-8.

Abstract

Most children with generalized tonic-clonic seizures have a benign developmental disorder of seizure threshold that will be outgrown with or without treatment. Such children may have one or more infrequent seizures before adequate threshold is achieved. A small percentage of children will have frequent generalized seizures (epilepsy) due to brain damage or abnormality. Such patients require vigorous anticonvulsant therapy. However, for the children with "benign childhood epilepsy" treatment may be worse than the disease.

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Anticonvulsants / toxicity
  • Child
  • Epilepsy / classification
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Risk
  • Seizures / classification

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants