ConclusionĬhildren with idiopathic epilepsy suffering from predominant nocturnal seizure have overt and subtle cognitive functions impairments compared to children with predominant diurnal seizure. There was no significant difference regarding the associated sleep disturbances between the studied groups. There was a significant difference in almost all cognitive variables including digit forward, digit backward, processing speed, verbal IQ, WCST perseverative responses, WCST failure to maintain set, Trail Making Test A (error), Trail Making Test B (Time), and Trail Making Test B (error). There was no significant difference between both groups regarding age, sex, age of epilepsy onset, or seizure frequency.

Cognition was assessed using Wechsler Intelligence scale for children (WISC) to measure IQ, Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) (computerized version), Trail Making Test, and Digit spans test. All patients were subjected to neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography. Patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that affect cognitive function, patients with intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70, and those having other neurological or psychiatric disorders' were excluded. Based on seizures semiology, they were classified into cases either with nocturnal epileptic seizures (NES) ( n = 40) or with diurnal epileptic seizures (DES) ( n = 30). The study was conducted on 70 children with idiopathic generalized or benign focal epilepsy. The study aims to evaluate the effect of nocturnal epileptic seizures on cognitive functions in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Studies have linked nocturnal epileptic discharges to delayed cognitive abilities in children. Cognitive impairment is a common finding epileptic children.

Nocturnal epileptic seizures