Benign and Malignant Childhood Epilepsies

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological diseases of childhood and results from diverse etiologies. Many children with epilepsy will be found to have a specific electroclinical syndrome, which is key for selecting appropriate investigations and therapy and for determining prognosis. Epilepsies that are pharmacoresponsive, not associated with encephalopathy, and often self-limited are thought of as "benign." Conversely, "malignant" epilepsies are pharmacoresistant, often result in epileptic encephalopathy, and are generally not self-limited. This chapter will review both "benign" and "malignant" epilepsies in children, focusing on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, treatment, and long-term outcome.