Benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) - The Basics and Resources

Keep in mind that this is a diagnosis made with "20/20" hindsight - AFTER seeing a specialist, EEG and imaging. I would just add that treatment may or may not be prescribed. JR

Benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE)

Overview

Benign rolandic epilepsy is the most common form of childhood epilepsy. It is referred to as "benign"
because most children outgrow the condition by puberty, usually by 14 years of age. [1][2]

This form of epilepsy is characterized by seizures involving the part of the frontal lobe of the brain called the rolandic area.

The seizures associated with this condition typically occur during the nighttime. [1] Treatment is usually not prescribed, since the condition tends to disappear by puberty.[3]

Adapted from:
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/10287/benign-rolandic-epilepsy-bre/resources/1


References
1. Blumstein MD, Friedman MJ. Childhood Seizures. Emerg Med Clin N Am. 2007.
2. Fountain NB. Evidence for FunctionalImpairment But Not Structural Disease in Benign Rolandic
Epilepsy. Epilepsy Curr. 2008 January .
3. Benign rolandic epilepsy. Epilepsy Action. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/benign.html. Accessed
May 6, 2008.

OTHER NAMES FOR BENIGN ROLANDIC EPILEPSY (BRE)

• Benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECCT)
• Benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS)
• Benign rolandic epilepsy of childhood (BREC)

General Information

• The Epilepsy Foundation has an information page on benign rolandic epilepsy. Click on Epilepsy Foundation to view the information page.
• MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
• Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) offers information on this topic. You can contact NINDS by calling toll-free 800-352-9424 or by visiting their Web site.
• PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE). Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
• The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE). Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.