01/11/2025
Today is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome International Awareness Day.
What is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome?
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe and rare form of epilepsy.with an estimated incidence of 0.1 to 0.28 per 100,000 people per year. It accounts for 1-4% of all childhood epilepsy cases and about 1-2% of all epilepsy patients. Seizures begin in early childhood, usually before the age of 4 years.
Children, adolescents, and adults with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome have multiple types of seizures that vary among individuals. Common seizure types include: Tonic seizures (stiffening of the body, upward eye gaze, dilated pupils, and altered breathing patterns), Atypical absences (staring spells), Atonic seizures (brief loss of muscle tone, which could cause abrupt falls), Myoclonic seizures (sudden muscle jerks) and Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (muscle stiffness and rhythmic jerking).
There may be periods of frequent seizures mixed with relatively seizure-free periods. Although not always present at the onset of seizures, most people living with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome experience some degree of impaired intellectual functioning or information processing, along with developmental delays and behavioral disturbances. A particular pattern of brain electric activity can be seen using electroencephalogram (EEG).
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can be caused by a variety of conditions, including: Brain malformations, Tuberous sclerosis, Perinatal asphyxia, Severe head injury, Central nervous system infection,
Inherited genetic and inherited degenerative or metabolic conditions.
