Fotosensibilità epilettica: Segni e sintomi durante la stimolazione luminosa intermittente, i pattern visivi e il gioco da videogame

Epileptic manifestations related to video-games (VG) have been well known since the early 1980s but knowledge of correlative clinical and electro-encephalographic (EEG) manifestations in VG playing is actually still limited. We conducted a clinical study to identify and compare the clinical manifestations related to Intermittent Light Stimulations (IPS), pattern stimulation and VG playing on nine children with a history of television (TV) or VG related seizures. They underwent long-term video-EEG monitoring; each patient was exposed to IPS, Pattern and 12 different VGs. Analysis of the EEGs was first done separately and then exactly correlated with the patient's behaviour. All children (100%) showed clinical signs and the majority also symptoms (67%). There were basically no differences in clinical manifestations or EEG phenomena evoked by the various visual stimuli between the patients. Although all were visual sensitive, they had different types of seizures and epilepsies. Parents and doctors should be aware of the minor ictal events to prevent major seizures provoked by VG playing.