Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (pronunciation: len-ox gas-toh sin-drohm) is a rare and severe kind of epilepsy that starts in childhood. It is characterized by multiple types of seizures and intellectual disability.
Etymology
The syndrome is named after two British neurologists, William G. Lennox and Henri Gastaut, who first described it in the mid-20th century.
Symptoms
People with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome experience different types of seizures, most commonly tonic seizures, atonic seizures (also known as drop attacks), and atypical absence seizures. Other symptoms may include developmental delay and behavioral problems.
Causes
The exact cause of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is unknown. However, it is often associated with brain damage from birth injuries, encephalitis, meningitis, or other infections. Some cases may be related to genetic mutations.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is based on the clinical symptoms, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, and response to treatment. The EEG typically shows a characteristic pattern called slow spike-wave complexes.
Treatment
Treatment for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is challenging and usually involves a combination of medications, dietary therapy, and sometimes surgery. Medications used include antiepileptic drugs such as valproate, lamotrigine, and topiramate. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been found to reduce seizures in some people with this syndrome.
Prognosis
The prognosis for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome varies. Some people may have a reduction in seizures with treatment, but most continue to have seizures throughout their lives. Intellectual and behavioral problems can also persist.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
- Wikipedia's article - Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski