Apneic seizures in infants: role of continuous EEG monitoring.

Abstract

Respiratory compromise is not uncommon in epileptic seizures. However, pure apneic seizures are rare. In this study, we report 10 children who presented with pure apneic seizures. All the children were admitted because of apneic events. Seizures were also considered in the differential diagnosis. Six patients had nonspecific findings consisting of multifocal interictal epileptiform activity with no event correlation. Continuous 24-72 hours electroencephalogram (EEG) was performed in all patients to rule out apneic seizures. Ictal EEG showed high correlation with the apneic episodes, confirming the diagnosis of apneic seizures. Our study suggests that continuous EEG monitoring is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of apneic seizures.