Childhood seizures.

Comprehensive video/EEG/polygraphic monitoring over prolonged periods affords a precise diagnosis of epilepsy and the differentiation between true epileptic events and other abnormal and normal behaviors of infants and children which may be thought to be epileptic. In conjunction with serial monitoring of serum anticonvulsant drug levels, comprehensive monitoring also provides an objective data base for the rational treatment and management of seizure disorders which heretofore have been based on empirical trial and error. Comprehensive monitoring over prolonged periods improves diagnosis and management because it (1) increases the detection of specific electrical epileptiform events, (2) makes possible the precise characterization of the clinical and electrical seizure activities and their interrelationships, and (3) provides a method for the quantitation of the epileptic process in the brain before and after treatment.