Hot-water epilepsy: a variant of reflex epilepsy in southern India

Abstract

"Hot water epilepsy" (HWE), precipitated by a bath or shower in hot water, has been described infrequently in the literature. We report 279 cases of HWE that were seen between 1980 to 1983 in Bangalore, South India. We found HWE to be more common in children, with cases more frequent among male than female patients (2.6:1). Complex partial seizures constituted the main clinical presentation (67.0%); HWE accounted for 4.4% of all complex partial seizures and generalize tonic-clonic seizures seen at our center during the 1980-1983 period. Although prognosis seems favorable 25.4% of our patients developed nonreflex epilepsy within 1-3 years. They were managed with antiepileptic drugs and the use of lukewarm water for bathing.