Initial Seizures

A seizure in an otherwise healthy baby is one of the first signs of Dravet Syndrome. In Dravet Syndrome, the first seizures typically occur between three and nine months of age, with an average of six months old.

What type of seizure might the first one be?

Febrile seizures

In just over half of cases, this is the first seizure someone with Dravet Syndrome would have. Sometimes called ‘febrile convulsions’, febrile seizures affect both sides of the brain at the same time. They are triggered by a high or rapidly rising temperature, often due to illness.

Generalised tonic-clonic seizures

In tonic-clonic seizures the person’s body suddenly becomes stiff and then jerks rhythmically. These typically last one to three minutes. Toward the end of the seizure, the jerky movements slow to a stop and the person’s body relaxes. During this time, they may lose control of their bladder or bowels.

Generalised means both sides of the brain are affected at the same time.

Watch the Epilepsy Society video below to find out what the experience of a tonic-clonic seizure may be like.

Focal clonic seizures

Clonic seizures are characterised by jerky movements in which the person’s muscles stiffen and relax. These last a few seconds to one minute. Focal clonic means they can start in one side of the brain.

Hemiclonic seizures

Only one side of the body convulses with this type of seizure.

What are other typical characteristics of initial seizures?

They can be prolonged

‘Prolonged’ means they last more than five minutes and, sometimes, over half an hour, or even longer.

They can be recurrent or cluster seizures

This means they happen close together, without time for recovery in-between.

‘Rescue’ medication is likely to be needed to reduce the risks of ‘status epilepticus’

‘Status epilepticus’ is either an individual seizure that lasts longer than five minutes, or a cluster of them that happen close together without recovery time in-between. There are two types of status epilepticus – convulsive and non-convulsive:

1. Convulsive status epilepticus usually happens because of a prolonged tonic-clonic seizure. They involve convulsions, so jerking motions, grunting sounds, drooling, and rapid eye movements. These seizures can be life threatening and normally need an emergency intervention to stop them, either at home, or in a hospital setting.

2. Non-convulsive status epilepticus happens when there is continuous seizure activity and no major uncontrollable muscle contractions. But there may be subtle twitching or head nods. The seizures are characterised by an altered mental state and the person behaves differently to how they normally do. They are harder to recognise because symptoms are subtle. An electroencephalogram (EEG) test or scan – a recording of electrical activity in the brain – may be needed to confirm their diagnosis.