Benign infantile focal epilepsy with midline spikes and wave during sleep is a rare epilepsy syndrome that starts in infancy, typically between 4 and 30 months of age. This condition is characterized by partial seizures that may include moments of motion arrest, staring, and sometimes cyanosis. The term 'benign' suggests that, despite the seizures, the overall outcome for many children is good, although the condition requires careful evaluation and monitoring. During sleep, the condition shows specific changes on an electroencephalogram (EEG). A typical finding is a spike followed by a bell-shaped slow wave in the midline region of the brain. These EEG features help healthcare providers to recognize and distinguish this epilepsy syndrome from other types. As a result, the diagnosis often relies on both the clinical history of seizures and the characteristic changes observed during sleep studies.

People with this condition experience partial, sporadic seizures. Common signs include episodes where the child may suddenly stop moving, stare, or even turn a blue color (cyanosis) during the seizure. In some cases, other seizure behaviors such as automatisms or signs that may favor one side of the body might be seen. These symptoms typically arise in early infancy and are key in prompting further evaluation by specialists.

Information about causes is currently limited for this condition. There are no known genetic markers or clear risk factors that have been identified at this time.