J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2005 Nov;13(2):262-266.

Gelastic Seizure with Ataxic Hemiparesis Following Aseptic Meningitis

• Cho WK
• Seo SY
• Choi SR
• Lee SY
• Jeong DC
• Chung SY
• Kang JH

Abstract

Gelastic seizure(ictal laughter) is quite rare and associated with variable etiologies. The relationship between infection and gelastic seizure is not clear. The seizure usually begins in infancy or childhood and may be accompanied with precocious puberty and cognitive decline. It is known to be poorly responded to medical or surgical treatments. A 5-year-old boy diagnosed and aseptic meningitis visited our hospital again twenty days later because of paroxysmal and frequent involuntary laughing regardless of emotional changes, left side dominant muscle weakness and ataxia with gait disturbance for 5 days. Initial brain magnetic resonance image(MRI) showed no abnormalities but follow-up MRI taken twenty days later showed high signal intensity on right thalamus. The interictal electroencephalogram(EEG) revealed multiple polyspikes over the frontal area. Other etiologies could not be documented. It was suspected that previous aseptic meningitis resulted in gelastic seizure with ataxic hemiparesis. After medical treatment, he acquired good outcomes with a seizure free state.

Keyword

Gelastic seizure; Ataxic hemiparesis; Aseptic meningitis

MeSH Terms

Ataxia
Brain
Child, Preschool
Follow-Up Studies
Gait
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Meningitis, Aseptic*
Muscle Weakness
Paresis*
Puberty, Precocious
Seizures*
Thalamus