Epileptic Nocturnal Wanderings in a Young Female: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Abstract

Sleep-related hyperkinetic seizures are a frequent symptom of frontal lobe epilepsy that occurs at night. Although temporal lobe-originating sleep-related seizures have been documented, they often lack hyperkinetic activity. Furthermore, episodic nocturnal wandering is rarely observed and is believed to represent an unusual form of nocturnal epilepsy that responds to anti-seizure medications. In this report, we present a case of a 14-year-old right-handed girl with recurrent sleepwalking and wandering. Interictal electroencephalography revealed an epileptogenic focus in the left temporal lobe and intermittent slow-wave activity originating from that region. During her nighttime wanderings, the patient exhibited unusually violent and nonviolent conduct, putting herself at risk of minor or serious injuries.