The underlying cause of alternating hemiplegia is unknown. Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood is thought to be a variant of migraine headache.

Alternating hemiplegia is a very rare condition characterized by recurrent episodes of temporary paralysis.

There is no cure for either form of alternating hemiplegia. A drug called flunarizine has been used to treat the more severe type of alternating hemiplegia, in an effort to decrease the frequency of hemiplegic episodes.

There are no available tests to definitively diagnose either form of alternating hemiplegia. These disorders are diagnosed by ruling out other possible reasons for a child's episodes and symptoms.

Alternating hemiplegia is quite rare, with fewer than 100 diagnosed cases in the United States, and fewer than 240 diagnosed patients worldwide.