Childhood Absence Epilepsy evolving to Eyelid Myoclonia with Absence Epilepsy

Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) is a form of pediatric idiopathic generalized epilepsy that occurs in children of school age with a peak at 6–7 years. It has a strong genetic predisposition and appears more frequently in girls than boys. It is characterized by very frequent typical absences [1]. According to some authors perioral myoclonia and single myoclonic jerks of the limbs, head or trunk during absence are possible [2] while Panayiotopoulos considers them as exclusion criteria [3]. The ictal EEG recording shows generalized spike-wave discharges at 3 Hz on a normal background activity.

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