Epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder that affects adults and children alike. In many cases, the complications with epilepsy are identified in childhood and are often associated with a brain injury or some type of complications associated with a genetic disorder. If your child has developed complications associated with tonic spasms, it may be prudent to investigate the possible presence of Ohtahara syndrome.
Born with an abnormal brain complication, children who have Ohtahara syndrome are typically identified with the disorder as the seizures range from tonic spasms to complications involving infantile spasms early in life. For many children with this diagnosis, an EEG will prove the diagnosis and, in many cases, boys are easily diagnosed as the condition is more common among them. Just like a motor vehicle accident scoliosis, in which an injury arises from an accident, Ohtahara syndrome can be related to trauma experienced during pregnancy but typically is a neurological development complication.
Ohtahara syndrome causes abnormal development of the brain and, as a result, the condition can be identified on an EEG quite easily. Testing, therefore, is necessary for this diagnosis and can identify if the condition is associated with trauma or lesion development. Based on this type of testing outcome, further treatment to address brain abnormality can be addressed. In most cases, surgery is typically not recommended.
To treat the complications associated with Ohtahara syndrome, you can expect that the primary focus of care will be associated with the issues of mental retardation and improving longevity. Because this syndrome causes a child to pass away early in life, the typical treatments for a seizure disorder – including steroids and epilepsy medications – are not effective. However, your child’s neurologist may recommend treatment to help improve your child’s life span.
Ohtahara syndrome is a complex neurological condition that affects thousands of infants each year. If you are concerned about your child’s seizure disorder, and if the condition is related to Ohtahara syndrome, your best opportunity for caring for your child will lie in the ability to control secondary complications and the risk for early death. Keep actively involved with treatment and work diligently with a pediatric neurologist who specializes in this disorder.
Sources: Partial Seizure Disorders, by Mitzi Waltz