Neuropediatrics 2012; 43 - WS20_01
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1307175

3D-Television and the Risk of Seizures in Children

L Navarro-Ramirez 1, H Plischke 2, J Rieß 2, C Bäumel 3, C von Stülpnagel 3, M Staudt 3, G Kluger 4
  • 1Zentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche Inn-Salzach, Altötting, Germany
  • 2Generation Research GmbH, Humanwissenschaftliches Zentrum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Bad Tölz, Germany
  • 3Schön Klinik Vogtareuth, Klinik für Neuropädiatrie und Neurologische Rehabilitation, Epilepsiezentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche, Vogtareuth, Germany
  • 4Schön Klinik Vogtareuth, Klinik für Neuropädiatrie und Neurologische Rehabilitation, PMU Salzburg, Vogtareuth, Germany

Aims: In 1997 approximately 685 Japanese children were hospitalized by suspected epileptic seizures after watching a Pokemon series. In 2010 a 42-year-old man in Taiwan died while watching the 3D epic (3DE) Avatar. The risk of seizures while watching 3D in patients with epilepsy has not been systematically examined yet.

Methods: After a 20min Routine-EEG with Photo stimulation (PS) runs a 15min Video-EEG, meanwhile was the 3DE Ice Age watched. A 50 inches 3D-Plasma-TV with 3D-Shutter glasses was used in a 9-m2 room with a 2m watching distance. Each EEG was independently from 2 physicians (LN-R, GK) visual evaluated.

Results: To date 150 patients (77 male, mean age 12) were analyzed. 84 patients had epilepsy. 15 patients presented a photo paroxysmal reaction (PPR). 1 patient with epilepsy (4 seizures/day) had shortly after 3D a seizure. 3 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy had an increase of epileptic discharges (ED). In all other patients neither seizure could be provoked, nor did the ED increase while viewing 3D-TV. 10 patients presented a reduction from of ED. 25 patients complained about nausea, headache and dizziness and in most of the patients lambda waves appeared during 3D.

Conclusion: In this running study, until now, an increase of ED was detected in 3 of 84 children with epilepsy (3.6%) while watching 3D. The reduction of ED during 3D can be interpreted as an increase of alertness. A seizure during 3D was not observed. The risk to provoke a seizure while watching 3D is apparently low and does not seem to be a matter of technology (3D or 2D), but rather a matter of the video content (for example particular colors or repetitive figures). A high percentage of the patients however reported vegative symptoms like in motion sickness during 3D.

3D and epilepsy - photostimulation - photoparoxysmale reaction