Tap seizures in infancy: A critical review

Abstract

Tap seizure is a type of reflex myoclonic epilepsy in which seizures are evoked mainly by unexpected tactile stimuli and which is classified among the electroclinical syndromes of infancy. This condition, whose onset is in the first two years of life, is characterized by excellent prognosis and is extremely rare. We reviewed all published articles and case reports on Reflex Myoclonic Epilepsies focusing on touch-induced seizures in order to clarify clinical and electroencephalographic findings. Our aim is to increase knowledge about this specific disorder in order to help pediatricians avoid extensive investigations when making their diagnosis and reassure parents regarding absence of long-term complications.

Reflex seizure triggering: Learning about seizure producing systems

“…In these RSs (Pts 1-7, Table 1), tapping [28][29][30], rubbing [31] or tooth-brushing [17,21] the ictal semiology may resemble a spinal reflex-loop (Pt 1) [33,34]: the stimulation of the limb, be it light touch, running or tension, evokes motor jerks of the same limb [33].…”

“…One way to classify RSs follows the type of the evoking stimuli: sensory or cognitive, simple or complex [7,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Another classification follows the supposed focal (unilateral) or generalised (bilateral from the beginning) nature of seizures with some hints that even bilateral RSs might represent secondary and quickly spreading unilateral (focal) ones [1,19,20].…”