How common is Panayiotopoulos syndrome?

It is not known how common this syndrome is. It may affect between 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 of all children with epilepsy. The most common age it happens is between 3 to 5 years, but it may affect children as young as 1, and as old as 10 years.

Is Ohtahara syndrome fatal?

Some children with Ohtahara syndrome may die within the first 2 years of life. Those who survive are typically left with severe physical and cognitive disabilities.

Is vomiting a symptom of epilepsy?

Ictal nausea with vomiting is a rare clinical manifestation of seizures. Ictal vomiting is considered a localizing sign in patients with partial seizures of temporal origin.

How is ohtahara syndrome diagnosed?

The EEG is the most important test in making a diagnosis of Ohtahara syndrome.

1. The EEG is very abnormal with a burst suppression pattern (high amplitude spikes followed by little brain activity or flattening of the brain waves).
2. These changes can be seen during sleep and when the infant is awake.

What is the cause of Panayiotopoulos syndrome?

The cause of Panayiotopoulos syndrome involves an epileptogenic activation of the low threshold central autonomic areas. However, the signals are not strong enough to activate the cortical areas that usually bring about motor or sensory manifestations. Hence, most of the seizures have purely autonomic features.

Can a child with Panayiotopoulos syndrome take medication?

Some children diagnosed with Panayiotopoulos syndrome may have very infrequent seizures, in which case medication may not be required. For those with more frequent seizures, anti-epileptic drugs may be prescribed.

When does Panayiotopoulos syndrome go into remission?

Seizures are self-limiting with remission typically within a few years from onset. NOTE Self-limiting refers to there being a high likelihood of seizures spontaneously remitting at a predictable age. Panayiotopoulos syndrome is characterized by onset of seizures between 1 and 14 years of age (majority between 3 and 6 years).

When does cardiorespiratory arrest occur in Panayiotopoulos?

In approximately one fifth of the seizures the child becomes unresponsive and flaccid (ictal syncope) before or often without convulsions. Cardiorespiratory arrest is exceptional. More-conventional seizure symptoms often appear after the onset of autonomic manifestations.