Question
What is pediatric benign occipital spike wave epilepsy?
Answer
Pediatric benign occipital spike wave epilepsy commonly affects children and adolescents aged 3 to 13, with a peak incidence at around 9 to 10 years old. It often manifests as unilateral facial twitching during sleep, which may generalize to the entire body. With age, most patients spontaneously resolve around adolescence, and the prognosis is generally good. The condition has a certain genetic predisposition, with an increased incidence in first-degree relatives, and the mode of inheritance may be polygenic or autosomal dominant. Early treatment can help avoid unnecessary suffering for the child.