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Electrical Status Epilepticus of Sleep

Description

Electrical Status Epilepticus of Sleep (ESES) is caused by an electrical disturbance in brain activity. This disease disrupts the third and fourth stages of sleep resulting in sleep depravation. Thus the brain is not given a chance to regenerate and heal itself during this critical time of growth.

Diagnosis

ESES is typically seen in children and most patients have underlying epilepsy. Symptoms include poor memory recall, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, tiredness, and a lower immunity to illness. The rate of learning appears to slow significantly. Many children begin to have problems with either understanding or expressing their own thoughts verbally. A number of different seizure types are seen. Many children will have absence seizures, some myoclonic seizures and others will have partial motor seizures, especially at night.

Treatment

Anti-epileptic drugs have been found to be most useful.

Source: Adapted from International Classification of Sleep Disorders Diagnostic & Coding Manual, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.