[Photosensitivity and generalized idiopathic epilepsies of children].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of photosensitivity at patients of paediatric age diagnosed with different types of generalized idiophatic epilepsies.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: We used a group of 68 children aged 3-18 years diagnosed: 39 patients with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), 11 with juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), 10 with epilepsy with grand mal on awakening (EGMA), 8 with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). EEG was recording without and with stimulation (hyperventilation, intermittent photic stimulation -IPS) after sleep deprivation. For all children with CAE absences and anormal EEG was provoked by hyperventilation and in 12 cases seizures was provoked by IPS.

RESULTS: At 4 patients with JAE, EEG show photosensitivity. 5 children with JME have photosensitivity and for one child opening eyes provoked polyspike-wave discharges without clinical correspondent. The EEG of patients with EGMA showed photosensitivity at 6 children. The photosensitivity is frequently associated with generalized idiophatic epilepsies (32.35%) and it is most often seen at girls (54.54%) of puberty age.