Epileptic Encephalopathies

Although Epilepsy in children is often considered as a benign condition with possible recovery in adolescence, most cases are accompanied by serious disturbances of the cognitive functions. Epileptics encephalopathies represent the most dramatic section of paediatric neurology. In most cases, children develop severe frequent polymorphic seizures, permanent extended epileptiform activity on the electroencephalogram and severe disturbances of higher mental functions. In some patients, seizures may be absent but severe cognitive, behaviour and speech disturbances develop in any case. This book, written by Russian experts in the aforementioned field, is devoted to those epileptic encephalopathies when epilepsy itself is the major cause of psychomotor retardation in children. It summarises current data from the world-wide literature and authors'' long experience of practical work with patients suffering from epileptic encephalopathies. Each chapter includes a clear definition of the syndrome, its historical background, information about aetiology and pathogenesis. Maximal attention is paid to the semiology of epileptic seizures, EEG and neuroimaging data. Diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis are presented in detail. Many sections are illustrated with histories and photos of patients with rare diseases, examples of typical changes in EEG and MRI. And of course, the treatment is provided for all forms of epileptic encephalopathies.