Burns from foul play? No – previously unsuspected epilepsy

Abstract

SUMMARY Introduction Injuries such as burns may occur from unwitnessed and unsuspected new onset epilepsy with forensic implications. Case report A young woman was found with >25% 2nd and 3rd degree body burns after an unwitnessed morning event in a shower. Discussion The onset of tonic-clonic seizures and limb jerks in adolescence with a typical EEG recording of 3–4/second spike/polyspike-and-waves are diagnostic of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME). Worldwide there is a significant morbidity and mortality in epilepsy from burns. The treatment of JME and of burns was discussed.