8A62
Epileptic encephalopathies
Description
Epilepsies for which no clear etiology can be detected or occurring at the presence of two or more static structural or metabolic conditions increasing the risk for epileptic seizures. The epileptic activity itself may contribute to severe cognitive and behavioural impairments above and beyond what might be expected from the underlying pathology alone. [1]
Subcategories
8A62.0 Infantile spasms
Syndrome characterised by the subacute onset of brief, repeated seizures with axial or limb flexion, occurring in clusters. EEG shows hypsarrhythmia, i.e., chaotic, high voltage slowing multifocal spikes, with ictal abrupt decremental pattern. Various structural brain pathologies may be present, or no cause may be found. Two-thirds of children have subsequent cognitive deficits. [1]
8A62.1 Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Syndrome defined as a cryptogenic or symptomatic generalised epilepsy, which is characterised by the following symptomatic triad: several epileptic seizures (atypical absences, axial tonic seizures and sudden atonic or myoclonic falls); diffuse slow interictal spike waves in the waking EEG (< 3 Hz) and fast rhythmic bursts (10 Hz) during sleep; slow mental development associated with personality disturbances. [1]
8A62.2 Acquired epileptic aphasia
Epilepsy with onset in a previously normal child characterised by acquired aphasia, variable seizure types, focal bitemporal EEG epileptiform abnormalities (1.5-5 Hz spike and slow-waves), frequently activated by sleep, with or without seizures. Behavioural disorders such as hyperactivity and attention deficit are common. There is no documented brain pathology. [1]
References
- World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11 MMS), 2026-01 release. World Health Organization; 2026.
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