Long-term prognosis of complex partial seizures in childhood.

We studied the long-term prognosis of complex partial seizures in childhood including their electroencephalograms, behavioral problems and adaptation to school or society. In the clinical course, seizures were controlled in 25 cases out of 40 (62.5%). The rate of seizure control was significantly higher in cases with a past history of febrile convulsions, whose onset occurred before 6 years of age and in whom the CT scans were normal. Behavioral, motor and emotional problems included "clumsiness" in 25%, "poor athletes" in 22.5%, "hyperactivity" in 17.5% and "easily enraged" in 12.5% of the cases. The overall cooperation of the surroundings with the patients was thought to be as important a factor as the patients' IQ, motor or emotional problems so that they can get along in school or society.