Hot water epilepsy occurring at temperature below the core temperature

Brain Dev. 2006 May;28(4):265-8. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2005.08.006. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

Abstract

A 6-year-old girl had water reflex epilepsy occurring at lower temperature than the core temperature. Seizures episodes consisted of a loss of consciousness absence followed by left predominant hypotonia with right fronto-temporal high voltage slow waves on the ictal-EEG. Seizures were only observed when the water was poured on scalp or face. Neuropsychological evaluation showed frontal dysfunction (Rey's figure). MRI study was normal. Oxcarbazepine permitted the disappearance of seizures and an improvement of executive disorders. In this case, the pathophysiological mechanism cannot be a hyperthermic related event. The temperature control as treatment of hot-water epilepsy could be used after the exploration of its implication in seizure induction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology
  • Body Temperature / physiology*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Carbamazepine / analogs & derivatives
  • Carbamazepine / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / etiology
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • Epilepsy, Reflex / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Reflex / etiology
  • Epilepsy, Reflex / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Space Perception / physiology

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Carbamazepine
  • Oxcarbazepine