Seizures and Syndromes

Epilepsy is very complicated because it comprises a spectrum of seizures and syndromes. Someone who has two or more unprovoked seizures (e.g., not related to alcohol, drugs, flashing lights) within 24 hours is considered to have epilepsy. There are two broad classifications of seizures:  generalized and partial.  Within these main groups, there are at least 10 types.

The difference between a seizure and an epilepsy syndrome is that a seizure is an event and an epilepsy syndrome has a group of characteristics related to the seizures as well as other possible non-seizure related symptoms. Epilepsy syndromes are defined by a group of features including the following:

--types of seizures

--age at which seizures begin

--part of the brain that is involved

--severity and frequency

--patterns of EEG, MRI, etc.

--genetic factors

--chance of recovery/possible worsening of seizures

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, there are over 20 types of epilepsy syndromes.   The most famous one is Dravet Syndrome.  Another familiar one is Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS).

Some of the others include:

Angelman Syndrome

Benign Rolandic Syndrome

Doose Syndrome

Landau-Kleffner Syndrome

Infantile Spasms

CDKL5 Syndrome

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

A lot of research has gone into what these syndromes are.  Treatment, although somewhat successful, is still the major challenge.

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/about-epilepsy-basics

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/what-seizure

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes