Interictal epileptiform activity

What it means

Epileptiform activity refers to distinctive EEG waves or complexes distinguished from background activity found in in a proportion of human subjects with epilepsy, but which can also be found in subjects without seizures. Interictal epileptiform activity refers to such activity that occurs in the absence of a clinical or subclinical seizure.

Epileptiform EEG discharges include small sharp spikes (SSSs), wicket spikes, 14- and 6-Hz positive spikes, phantom spike and waves, psychomotor variant, subclinical rhythmic EEG discharges of adults (SREDA), and midline theta rhythm.

Rare diseases that can present with this11

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Epileptiform EEG discharges