Systemic paediatrics: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Pediatrics · Systemic paediatrics: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Sample item

A 15-year-old girl has jerks of the arms on waking that make her drop things. She had a generalised tonic-clonic seizure after a night of little sleep. EEG shows generalised 4 to 6 Hz polyspike and wave discharges. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy begins in adolescence with morning myoclonic jerks, generalised tonic-clonic seizures and sometimes absences, triggered by sleep deprivation. EEG shows generalised polyspike-wave. It is lifelong and responds to valproate, but in girls of child-bearing age alternatives such as levetiracetam or lamotrigine are considered.

Option by option

  • A. West syndrome

    West syndrome presents in infancy with spasms and hypsarrhythmia.

  • B. Childhood absence epilepsy

    Absence epilepsy shows 3 Hz spike-wave and brief staring spells in younger children.

  • C. Benign rolandic epilepsy

    Benign rolandic epilepsy shows centrotemporal spikes with nocturnal focal seizures.

  • D. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (correct)

    Correct. Morning myoclonus, sleep deprivation triggers and polyspike-wave fit JME.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pediatrics questions

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy begins in adolescence with morning myoclonic jerks, generalised tonic-clonic seizures and sometimes absences, triggered by sleep deprivation.

Why is "West syndrome" not the answer?

West syndrome presents in infancy with spasms and hypsarrhythmia.

Why is "Childhood absence epilepsy" not the answer?

Absence epilepsy shows 3 Hz spike-wave and brief staring spells in younger children.

Why is "Benign rolandic epilepsy" not the answer?

Benign rolandic epilepsy shows centrotemporal spikes with nocturnal focal seizures.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic paediatrics: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in Pediatrics. EEG shows generalised polyspike-wave. It is lifelong and responds to valproate, but in girls of child-bearing age alternatives such as levetiracetam or lamotrigine are considered.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Systemic paediatrics: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.