It’s Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day today

Dravet syndrome is a rare form of epilepsy that begins when the child is a baby. The condition causes seizures that are hard to control. There is no cure for Dravet syndrome, but medication provides relief.

Signs of Dravet syndrome

Typically, the first sign is a seizure that comes when the baby has a fever. This is called a febrile seizure. However, many babies have these seizures and don’t get Dravet syndrome. So, this symptom alone does not mean your child will get the condition.

After the first febrile seizure, children with Dravet syndrome tend to have many seizures. Some may last many minutes, or they have a series of seizures. Some seizures affect only one side of the body.

Babies with Dravet syndrome also have seizures that are not necessarily linked to a fever. Children with the condition can get a seizure when their body temperature rises. This could be due to a hot bath or a hot day, even when they are not ill. Some other triggers are bright light, stress, or too much excitement.

Most children with Dravet syndrome develop some level of developmental disability. They usually develop like everyone else in the early years. After the age of two, they may lose certain developmental milestones, and experience more seizures.

Around the age of six years, cognitive issues in some children might stabilize or even begin improving. The majority of children with Dravet syndrome however, experience some degree of developmental disability that persists.

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