(( Absence seizures)): generalized seizures , manifest as brief staring spells, sometimes with automatisms.
onset age , commonly between 5 and 8 years , 
may be overlooked for prolonged periods due to their very brief duration.
Hyperventilation will often reproduce the event.
Diagnosis is by characteristic 3 Hz spike-and-slow-wave complexes on the EEG.
((Myoclonic seizures)):
vary in prognosis and neurodevelopmental outcome.
Infantile spasms are the most serious variant.
Symptoms commonly begin between 4 and 7 months of age with clusters of rapid ”jackknifing” contractions of the neck, trunk, and limbs followed by a brief sustained tonic contraction.
Hypsarrhythmia is the characteristic finding on EEG.
EEG is necessary to distinguish infantile spasms from 1⃣benign myoclonus of infancy (a benign involuntary movement) and 2⃣a myoclonic epilepsy (which vary in severity and outcome).
(( Epileptic spasms )):(which includes infantile spasms) are classified as an unknown seizure type because they do not fit well into the generalized or focal subsets.
((alternating hemiplegia of childhood)): Intermittent episodes of hemiplegia (which may alternate between sides of the body) .
Onset : infancy , attacks are flaccid in young infants and more dystonic in older ones.
Episodes range from minutes to weeks.
Other involuntary movements, nystagmus, or autonomic disturbances may accompany the episodes.
((Benign paroxysmal vertigo )) : commonly occurs in toddlers.
Children experience brief episodes of sudden imbalance. frightened by the episodes and fall to the floor, refusing to stand or walk.
Consciousness and speech are preserved.
Nystagmus is usually evident.
Neurologic evaluation (including imaging and EEG) is normal, except for abnormal vestibular function noted on ice water caloric testing.
considered a migraine variant and a likely precursor to migraine headaches.
((spasmus nutans )) :Paroxysmal head-nodding, torticollis (head tilt), and nystagmus
consciousness is preserved.
Onset : first few months of life , resolves by 5 years.
Neuroimaging recommended to rule out tumors.
Repetitive purposeless movements are exhibited by autistic or handicapped children,in environments with a low level of stimulation.may be difficult to distinguish clinically from seizure activity.
Syncopal convulsions may be self-induced by performing the Valsalva maneuver.
Masturbation in young children also mistaken as seizures by parents.
((Involuntary movements)) : occur as isolated entities or as a component of more complex movement disorders;
chorea, dystonia, hypokinesia, myoclonus are examples.
Tics and stereotypic movements described as involuntary movements even though affected individuals may have some ability to suppress those motions.
Some electroclinical (epilepsy) syndromes are characterized by both seizures and involuntary movements,
movement disorders alone can be difficult to distinguish from seizures when manifest as abrupt or paroxysmal involuntary movements.
movement disorders1⃣ do not manifest during sleep, 2⃣more stereotypical than seizures, 3⃣not associated with loss of consciousness 4⃣ no abnormal EEG findings.
((Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes)) : (previously called benign rolandic epilepsy)
presents as a brief hemifacial seizure (parents may describe the child’s face as “twisted”) awakens the child from sleep.
Generalization rarely.
Drooling and an inability to speak are common, preserved consciousness
EEG :characteristic centrotemporal spikes.
Onset : 3 _13 years of age , resolution in adolescence.
family history often positive for epilepsy.
(( Narcolepsy )) : recurrent short sleep attacks. often accompanied by cataplexy (a sudden collapse due to loss of muscle tone but with preserved consciousness)
induced by laughter, excitement, or startle.
Vivid hallucinations (e.g., visual, auditory, tactile) with transition to and from sleep; sleep paralysis may accompany them.
Disturbed nighttime sleep is common.
((Night terrors)): sudden partial arousal from non-REM sleep,
occurring 2 hours after sleep onset,
accompanied by inconsolable screaming and crying.
occur mostly in preschoolers and early school-aged children.
Children appear awake but not recognize people , no memory of the event.
Confusional arousals are similar, less extreme events , more gradual onset, child is less likely to try to get out of bed.
Rarely, prolonged episodes of hyperventilation may result in loss of consciousness and some seizure activity.