INFORMATION ON EARLY INFANTILE EPILEPTIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

EIEE is also known as Ohtahara syndrome or early infantile epileptic encephalopathy with containment bursts. Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy Syndrome begins before the child is three months old and generally within the first 10 days of life. We do not know how general the Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy Syndrome is.

CAUSES OF EARLY INFANTILE EPILEPTIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

The Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy Syndrome is generally caused by structural brain problems, but in some cases no cause can be recognized. It is possible that Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy (EIEE), infantile spasms, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome stand for the brain’s reactions to various outside factors at specific stages of development.

SYMPTOMS OF EARLY INFANTILE EPILEPTIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

The child generally has tonic spasms. He may also have partial seizures and, rarely, Myoclonic seizures. He will also have a feature “suppression-burst” EEG pattern while he is awake and asleep. An EEG and neuroimaging studies are both important for diagnosis.

TREATMENT OF EARLY INFANTILE EPILEPTIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

EIEE has a poor prognosis. Children with this syndrome have harsh psychomotor retardation; they are unable to learn new psychomotor skills (that is, skills which involve controlled movement) and may not create eye contact with others. Their seizures continue, and are very difficult to manage. Children with this syndrome may later develop infantile spasms, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or severe partial epilepsy.