All children who were referred to the neurophysiology department who were either unable to keep still for their EEG, or required a sleep EEG as part of their epilepsy "work-up" and whose caregivers agreed to the administering of sedation with melatonin. Melatonin by mouth (3mg for children < 15kg, 6mg for those > 15kg) 1 hour before the scheduled EEG by the unit nurse. Children who can swallow the capsules directly, those who cannot are given the contents of the powder in the capsule mixed in a few millilitres of water. If the child fails to fall asleep within one hour of administration of the melatonin then a second dose 3mg is given) .

Since the choral hydrate had been withdrawn a direct comparison group was not possible. However a study performed the previous year in the department measured a several parallel useful outcomes. This study had addressed the usefulness of electroencephalograms in a South African population. A proportion of this group screened in 2012 in our unit underwent sleep studies, sedated with chloral (n=22). These patients were drawn from the same regional pool, with the same disease demographics, and the same sleep deprivation and procedural techniques to the current group. This group was screened for several common denominators to the current study themes, and comparison will be made between these, namely the proportion of patients with successful attainment of sleep studies, the proportion of studies with excessive artifact (precluding interpretation) and the usefulness of the data attained detailing whether the studies were able to assist or alter patient management.

Successful attainment of EEG (in comparison to the unit's previous success rate)(Definition: "successful attainment of EEG" = completed sleep EEG, without excessive artefact enabling an comprehensive report to be generated in a child who undergoes the procedure without evidence of adverse drug reactions)

Yield in terms of EEG abnormalities - number of abnormal studies, number of studies yielding outcomes which will alter patient management

To compare the EEG recordings in comparison to a historical group of age matched recordings sedated with chloral and to establish if the outcomes achieved are in line with the previous unit practice.