Evaluation of clinical, electrophysiological, radiological, treatment and prognosis of patients with hot water epilepsy

Evaluation of Clinical, Electrophysiological, Radiological, Treatment and Prognosis of Patients With Hot Water Epilepsy Objective: In this study, the clinical, laboratory, radiological and prognostic characteristics of the children with hot water epilepsy were evaluated retrospectively. Materials and Methods: Sixty one (11 girls and 50 boys) patients diagnosed with Hot Water Epilepsy were included in the study. The neuromotor developments and seizure history, imaging methods, laboratory findings, electroencephalography findings, therapies, physical and neurological examination findings after treatment, responses to treatments, epileptic conversions and developing neurological sequals were recorded. Results: The mean age at the application was 8,8 ±4,6 years. All patients had normal mental and neurological development. All patients had the same bathing style characterised by pouring hot water on their head. Eleven patients (18%) were given behavioural but not epileptic therapy. After this treatment the seziures completely disappeared or seziure frequency was decreased significantly. Seziures in 50 patients (73%) taking antiepileptic therapy were completely disappeared. EEG records in 57 patients (93,4%) were completely normal. Generalized epileptiform anomaly (3,2%) was the most common abnormal electroencephalographic finding. The most common seziure type (67,2%) was complex partial seziures. Only one patient had aura characterized by fearfull hallucinations after contact with hot water. Thirty eight (62,3%) and 31 (50%) patients had magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography of the head, respectively, which had normal findings. Three patients (4,9%) had pathological findings on their magnetic resonance images. In conclution; Hot Water Epilepsy is a type of epilepsy having a good prognosis and sequel-free remission in long-term follow-up. Differential diagnosis has should be done correctly; Keywords: Hot Water Epilepsy, clinical features, treatment, prognosis.