Is Dravet syndrome a type of epilepsy?

Is Dravet syndrome a type of epilepsy?

Dravet syndrome is a rare, drug-resistant epilepsy that begins in the first year of life in an otherwise healthy infant. It is lifelong. It usually presents with a prolonged seizure with fever that affects one side of the body. Most cases are due to severe SCN1A gene mutations.

Is epilepsy related to Down syndrome?

The prevalence of seizures in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) is higher than in the general population. Rates of epilepsy in DS range from 1-13%. Forty percent of individuals develop seizures before 1 year of age and another 40% develop in their thirties or later.

Does Dravet syndrome get worse?

The seizures experienced by people with Dravet syndrome become worse as the patient ages, as the disease is not very observable when symptoms first appear.

Can you live a normal life with Dravet syndrome?

Dravet syndrome is a rare, severe, and lifelong form of epilepsy (seizure disorder). Most people affected by this condition have a good life expectancy. The disease typically starts in the first year of life, and around 80-85% of the children survive into adulthood.

Does CBD help Dravet syndrome?

CBD resulted in a significant decrease of convulsive seizures and seizures of all types in Dravet syndrome, a pharmacoresistant epilepsy known to be associated with high mortality rates.

Can you grow out of Dravet syndrome?

Lifespan. An estimated 10-20 percent of Dravet syndrome patients pass away before reaching adulthood.

Is there a cure for Dravet syndrome?

Although there is no cure for Dravet syndrome, most treatments aim to reduce seizures. First line anti-seizure medications include clobazam (Onfi, Frisium) and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene). Second line treatments include stiripentol (Diacomit), topiramate (Topamax), and the ketogenic diet.

Does Dravet syndrome cause brain damage?

Dravet syndrome is a disease characterized by prolonged and frequent seizures that begin in the first year of life and are difficult to control with medication. These seizures are harmful to the developing brain and can cause cognitive and behavioral impairment in patients.

What is Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome?

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a type of epilepsy. Patients with LGS experience many different types of seizures including: Tonic – stiffening of the body. Atonic – temporary loss of muscle tone and consciousness, causing the patient to fall. Atypical absence – staring episodes.

Can Epidiolex cause a positive drug test?

While on Epidiolex, patients may test positive on urine drug screenings. Patients/parents should inform the drug testing site that they are taking Epidiolex as prescribed by their doctor.

What is Dravet syndrome called now?

Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome, previously known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy ( SMEI ), is a type of epilepsy with seizures that are often triggered by hot temperatures or fever. It is treated with anticonvulsant medications. It often begins around six months of age.

When do seizures start in Dravet syndrome?

It often begins before 1 year of age, however it is usually around the sixth month of age that seizures begin, characterized by prolonged convulsions triggered by fever. Dravet syndrome has been characterized by prolonged febrile and non-febrile seizures within the first year of a child’s life.

Is genetic testing necessary for infants with Dravet syndrome?

Because many of these criteria are not apparent in the first year of life and infants with Dravet syndrome initially experience typical development, the study determined genetic testing via an epilepsy panel should be considered in patients exhibiting any of the following:

Can a child with SCN1A have Dravet syndrome?

Some SCN1A mutations are associated with less severe forms of epilepsy, which means not all children with these mutations will develop Dravet syndrome. Rarely, atypical Dravet syndrome may be associated with other genetic mutations, such as SCN1B, GABRG2, or HCN1.