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Idiopathic Epilepsy Symptoms

Idiopathic epilepsy is a group of epileptic disorders that have unknown origins and cannot be traced back to any certain area of the brain, according to C. P. Panayiotopoulos, MD, PhD, FRCP. The seizures cannot be explained by an underlying cause. It is a syndrome, meaning that it is a collection of symptoms from similar types of seizures. There are several classifications of idiopathic seizures.

  1. Childhood Absence Epilepsy

    • Childhood Absence Epilepsy, or CAE, presents itself in early childhood, primarily from ages 4 to 8. Symptoms a child may present are staring spells and lapses of unconsciousness. These symptoms may only last for a few seconds, but they may occur hundreds of times throughout the day, according to Dr. Michael Wong of the Washington University School of Medicine. There may be some movement in the face or hands such as rapid blinking. However, throughout the spell, the child usually remains quite still. After the seizure, the child will have no memory of it happening. Concentration is hard to maintain for these children, and some patients have impaired learning skills. Those with Childhood Absence Epilepsy also may have other seizure disorders, mainly generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

    Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

    • Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, or JME, is a condition that may arise because of Childhood Absence Epilepsy. It is active in adults as well as juvenile patients. Myoclonic seizures affect the patients with this condition. Myolonic seizures are brief, uncontrollable shock-like movements happening in the arms, legs or trunk, according to Dr. Wong. These symptoms occur usually upon the patient awakening in the morning. It is generally a lifelong condition and is treated with medications.

    Benign Rolandic Epilepsy

    • Benign Rolandic Epilepsy or BRE is also called "benign childhood epilepsy with central-temporal spikes," Dr. Wong writes. It is one of the few idiopathic seizure syndromes that actually is a partial seizure. This means that the seizures come from a localized area of the brain. This condition usually begins in late childhood. This condition can occur during sleep and wake the patient up. Symptoms are focal motor seizures that affects one side of the face and the arm or leg on the same side as the seizure of the face is occurring.

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