The early form of benign epilepsy with occipital seizures (EBOS) also described as the early syndrome with susceptibility to occipital seizures in children, is an independent form of benign partial epilepsy in childhood. It starts at the age of 2 - 8 years in previously neurologically healthy children. It is manifested by protracted seizures during sleep with nausea, vomiting, lateral deviation of the eyes and frequently with generalization. In the EEG there is occipital paroxysmal activity, inhibited by opening of the eyes. The prognosis is favourable with spontaneous remission. The authors evaluated retrospec- tively the medical and EEG documentation of 244 children with partial seizures examined in 1995-1997 at the Neurological Department of the Childrens Faculty Hospital and Policlinic in Bratislava. Clinical and EEG criteria of EBOS were met by 7 children (4 girls and 3 boys), i.e. 2.8%. The follow-up period was at least 3 years. The first seizure developed at the age of 3.5 - 7.1 years, the last one at the age of 3.6 - 12.4 years and the seizure-free period was 3-5-5.75 years. Seizures occurred during sleep (4x). They lasted in 5 children less than 30 minutes in two 120 minutes. The total number of seizures was 2 - 6 and three children had only one seizure. On the EEG tracing all children had sharp waves and posterior temporal and/or occipital uni- or bilateral spikes. The EEG finding returned to normal within three years in 5 children. EBOS is not the most frequent form of epilepsy, it is however necessary to consider this form of epilepsy and diagnose it and thus express a favourable prognosis and avoid diagnostic doubts and long-term treatment.

        Key words: benign partial epilepsies, benign childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms, benign occipital seizure susceptibility syndrome, occipital paroxysms