Paroxysmal events are frequently encounted in children; however, there is little information concerning the relative frequency of various types of these disorders and the diagnostic value of short term outpatient video electroencephalographic monitoring in children. This study aimed to establish a proper diagnosis of the type of paroxysmal disorders, and to assess the value of short term video EEG monitoring in differentiating epileptic from nonepileptic seizures. The study analyzed 36 patients (age ranging from 3months-15years) who were referred in order to establish the type of paroxysmal disorders. The patients were divided in the following groups according to the main clinical complaint: epileptic (Group I, n=26) and nonepileptic (Group II, n=10). RESULTS: Clinical events were observed in 21/36 patients (58.3%) as 14/26 patients of epileptic group and 7/10 patients of nonepileptic group. In group I, epileptic seizures types were confirmed in 4/9 (44.4%) patients and reclassified in 5/9(55.6%) patients. Five patients presented nonepileptic events and 12 patients did not present clinical events during monitoring. In group II, nonepileptic events were confirmed in 6/7(85.7%) patients, one patient presented epileptic seizure, and three patients did not present clinical events during monitoring. Video electroencephalographic monitoring enabled major modification of therapeutic approach in 5 patients. In conclusion, in patients with frequent seizures, short term video electroencephalographic monitoring allows proper classification of epileptic syndromes, and diagnosis of nonepileptic events, promoting introduction of appropriate treatment with a relatively low cost.