The aim of this study is to analyze the seizure semiology consistent with frontal lobe symptomatogenic zone in childhood. We analyzed 549 videotaped seizures from 79 patients (mean age 9.9 ± 3.8 years). Magnetic resonance imaging was normal in 30 patients. The seizures in the time interval of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. were considered as nocturnal. The mean number of seizures per patient was 6.8 ± 7.3. The mean seizure duration was 25.7 ± 26.9 sec; postictal confusion was 27 ± 16.1 sec (7-92 seconds). The seizures were observed in sleep with a rate of 56.8%; 43.1% of them were during wakefulness. Overall 50.4% of the seizures occured during night-time sleep. Tonic seizure (77.2%) was the most frequent simple motor seizure. Versive seizures were the second most frequent type of simple motor seizure (26.7%). Clonic seizures were 17.7%, complex motor seizures were 20.5%, and dialeptic seizures were 3% of all the seizures. Epileptic spasm, myoclonic seizures, aphasia, and akinetic semiologies were not observed. Vocalization was observed in 16% of the seizures. Frontal lobe seizures in childhood have a short duration, occur frequently, especially during night time sleep, and have a brief postictal period. Tonic semiology, versive semiology are the most frequent seizure semiologies; hypermotor and secondary generalized tonic clonic seizures and vocalizations are observed less in children compared to adults.

Keywords: childhood, frontal lobes, seizure semiology