Background Cognitive impairment is a common finding epileptic children. Studies have linked nocturnal epileptic discharges to delayed cognitive abilities in children. Objective The study aims to evaluate the effect of nocturnal epileptic seizures on cognitive functions in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 70 children with idiopathic generalized or benign focal epilepsy. Based on seizures semiology, they were classified into cases either with nocturnal epileptic seizures (NES) ( n = 40) or with diurnal epileptic seizures (DES) ( n = 30). Patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that affect cognitive function, patients with intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70, and those having other neurological or psychiatric disorders' were excluded. All patients were subjected to neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography. Cognition was assessed using Wechsler Intelligence scale for children (WISC) to measure IQ, Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) (computerized version), Trail Making Test, and Digit spans test. Results There was no significant difference between both groups regarding age, sex, age of epilepsy onset, or seizure frequency. There was a significant difference in almost all cognitive variables including digit forward, digit backward, processing speed, verbal IQ, WCST perseverative responses, WCST failure to maintain set, Trail Making Test A (error), Trail Making Test B (Time), and Trail Making Test B (error). There was no significant difference regarding the associated sleep disturbances between the studied groups. Conclusion Children with idiopathic epilepsy suffering from predominant nocturnal seizure have overt and subtle cognitive functions impairments compared to children with predominant diurnal seizure.

中文翻译：

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夜间癫痫发作对特发性癫痫患儿认知功能的影响

背景 认知障碍是癫痫儿童的常见发现。研究已将夜间癫痫放电与儿童认知能力延迟联系起来。目的本研究旨在评估夜间癫痫发作对特发性癫痫患儿认知功能的影响。患者和方法 该研究对 70 名患有特发性全身性或良性局灶性癫痫的儿童进行。根据癫痫发作符号学，它们被分为夜间癫痫发作 (NES) (n = 40) 或昼夜癫痫发作 (DES) (n = 30)。接受影响认知功能的抗癫痫药物 (AED) 的患者、智商 (IQ) 低于 70 的患者以及患有其他神经或精神疾病的患者被排除在外。所有患者均接受神经系统检查，脑磁共振成像 (MRI) 和脑电图。使用韦克斯勒儿童智力量表 (WISC) 测量智商、威斯康星卡片分类测试 (WCST)（计算机化版本）、线索制作测试和数字跨度测试评估认知。结果两组在年龄、性别、癫痫发作年龄或癫痫发作频率方面无显着差异。几乎所有的认知变量都存在显着差异，包括数字前移、数字后移、处理速度、语言智商、WCST 持续反应、WCST 未能保持集合、试题 A（错误）、试题 B（时间）和试车测试 B（错误）。研究组之间相关的睡眠障碍没有显着差异。