Objective: To compare the executive functions of children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy with a control group and to correlate with clinical data, intelligence and academic performance. Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. Thirty-one cases and thirty-five controls were evaluated by the WCST (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test).The results were compared with clinical data (seizure type and frequency, disease duration and number of antiepileptic drugs used), IQ (WISC-III) and academic performance (APT). Results: Patients with epilepsy had poorer executive function scores. There was no positive linear correlation between test scores and epilepsy variables. There was a positive association between academic performance and some executive function results. Conclusion: Children with well controlled idiopathic epilepsy may show deficits in executive functions in spite of clinical variables. Those deficits may influence academic performance.Keywords: epilepsy, executive function, child, adolescent. RESUMOObjetivo: Comparar as funções executivas de crianças e adolescentes com epilepsia idiopática com um grupo controle e correlacioná-las com dados clínicos, nível intelectual, desempenho acadêmico. Método: Estudo transversal, descritivo e analítico. Foram avaliados 31 casos e 35 controles através do WCST (Wisconsin Card SortingTest). Os resultados foram comparados com dados clínicos (tipo e frequência de crises, duração da doença e número de drogas antiepilépticas utilizadas), QI (WISC-III) e desempenho acadêmico (TDE). Resultados: Pacientes com epilepsia tiveram piores resultados de funções executivas. Não houve correlação linear positiva entre a pontuação nos testes e as variáveis da epilepsia. Houve associação positiva entre desempenho acadêmico e alguns resultados de função executiva. Conclusão: Crianças com epilepsia idiopática bem controlada podem apresentar déficit de função executiva não relacionado a aspectos clínicos. Isso pode influenciar o rendimento acadêmico.Palavras-chave: epilepsia, função executiva, criança, adolescente.

Members of the Brazilian Royal Family carry a rich medical history of epileptic seizures and alike. Objective: To present the medical knowledge about epilepsy by the time of the Brazilian Empire, as reported by the royal family. Method: Narrative review of historical facts about D. Pedro I's family health. results: The Royal Family, since D. João VI's generation is full of members with epilepsy or acute symptomatic seizures of different etiologies. conclusion: The reported cases suggest that Dom Pedro I's family presented epilepsy with tonic-clonic generalized seizures, besides psychogenic, organic non epileptic events and acute symptomatic seizures. As a whole, this familial epilepsy could fit the diagnosis of generalized epilepsy with febrile convulsion plus.