Benign myoclonus
of early infancy
■■Brief bursts of myoclonic (muscle) jerks, occurring mainly
while the infant is awake
■■No impaired consciousness, alternation of facial colour or
abnormal eye movements
■■Child’s development and EEG are normal
Benign sleep
myoclonus of
infancy
■■ Intermittent myoclonic jerks during sleep, starting from a
few days of life and ceasing usually by 3–6 months of age
■■ The jerks do not involve the face and do not wake the child