A Child with Myoclonic Seizure?

Is this myoclonic seizure? My daughter is 2 years 5 months. When she has just gone to sleep the twitches appear in clusters every minute or so. The movements seem to vary from small twitches to a movement I would describe as "a gentle shock-like movement". When she appears to be in a deeper sleep, the movements are more isolated and individual twitches. Her sleep is disturbed throughout the night and she does wake up on numerous occasions.
We have not really experienced the same twitching when she is awake. Although she does twitch when she is very relaxed and does have a very slight tremor when eating or drinking from an open beaker.

She has had an EEG which has come back as normal.

Has anyone else have a child with similar twitches?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Myoclonic
• seizure
• twitching
• sleep
• movement
• disorders
• jerks
• toddler

[Claire9213]

Hi thanks for your comments. She has been diagnosed by her neurologist as having sleep myoclonus which also happens in an awake relaxed state. She also has joint laxity which causes a tremor when making fine motor movements. We are confident this is benign and does not appear to be a cause of an underlying condition.

[MissMamaJona]

I just posted a video of my son doing the same thing. His arms and legs where twitching/ jerking like this. My 2 yrs old son was diagnosed with Epilepsy in May 2011. This is something we've noticed him doing since he was about a yr old, but didn't think anything of it until I recently have been doing more research. I thought I should try to get some on camera to show the Neurologist since all of his EEG's have came back normal and he is having seizures.

[Claire9213]

@MissMamaJona Hi, thanks for your posting. I looked at your video and your son's movements are the same, although our daughter's facial movements are more isolated. We are confident that our daughter's movements are not related to epilepsy and believe her myoclonus not to be progressive. It is always good to capture as much video footage for the neurologist as possible, including a full body video so he/sher can see the whole body whilst the movements are happening. Good luck!

[dawn123dawn]

Hi, our lo (just turned 2 years) has exactly the same twitches and movements as you describe. I am really interested to know what the neurologist said in your appointment. Our doctor told us that these twitches are normal and not to worry, but can't help but worry. Can you let me know if I should b worrying?

Thanks

[Claire9213]

@dawn123dawn Our neurologist feels our lo has sleep myoclonus which also happens in an awake relaxed state. She also has joint laxity which causes a tremor when making fine motor movements. We were worried before seeing the neurologist but now feel happy that the myoclonus is benign and does not appear to be a cause of an underlying condition. It is difficult not to worry - push for a second opinion/referral to a neurologist? We are happy the movements are benign. Good luck.

[Claire9213]

Hi, thanks for your posting. Our daughter does wake up throughout the night and has never been a good sleeper, although she goes to bed and goes to sleep very easily. We think her movements wake her up (but cannot be 100% sure). Has your son had an EEG yet? Did it come back normal? Does your son twitch/jerk whilst he is awake or is it just in his sleep/going to sleep? We are seeing a neurologist in a week's time, which is good news. It'll be interesting to learn what your neurologist says.

[Chirsty76]

She looked normal to me.I thought a few twitches were normal in yr sleep.I hope she will be ok though. :)

[lucieann21]

I always thoght this was normal during sleep. My son has always done it

[imfrickincrazy]

I am watching this as my daughter is doing it sleeping it on my lap. she has been doing this persistently for the last 25 minutes.

[Anglynn74]

My son used gto do a lot of weird things w/ his body when he was younger, twitches & jerky movements etc but he grew out of it, even now when he sleeps he does that....even my husband does that but when someone is in R.E.M. sleep that can happen.

[lyndallchapman]

My daughter is 4 and does exactly the same thing. I took her to a pediatrician when she was one and he said she would grow out of it, no tests no EEG. She does this for most of the night is your daughter on any medication?

[costea2099]

Hi my name is cristina. I am from roumania europe. My son 1 year and 4 months is doung exactly in the same way like yours and also do that in relaxing state before sleep. Pls help me with sime informations if you want. Pls add me in messenger or in skype with id costea2099. Pls i really want to speak with you. Please contact me at any hour day or night. Thancks.

[olplove]

It looks like dreams to me...REM goes hand in hand with little twitches and dreams, which very often look like this, even in adults. I'm definitely no professional but I have a lot of experience with children and it looks normal to me. Good luck :)

[PointBleu]

My daughter is 15 mo and she started having the exact same movement pattern when she started a cold (only running nose). After 5 days, I brought her to the Children's hospital, we did a EEG and a blood test, which were normal.