Types of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy
At the Family Studies in Epilepsy Program, we are studying the following types of IGE:
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME)
In this form of epilepsy, patients experience sudden myoclonic (muscle) jerks, usually of the arms and shoulders. These jerks occur shortly after awakening in the morning or after taking a nap; patients do not lose consciousness. It represents about 10 percent of all epilepsies and begins during adolescence. Many patients also eventually experience grand mal seizures and absence (petit mal) seizures.
Juvenile Absence Epilepsy (JAE)
In this type of epilepsy, patients experience brief, infrequent spells of staring (“petit mal”) each of which lasts a few seconds. They may also experience grand mal seizures. Staring spells can begin as early as eight years of age and as late as 18, and occur between a few times a week and several times a day.
Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE)
Childhood Absence Epilepsy, (also called “petit mal”) affects children beginning around 3-5 years of age and account for two percent to eight percent of epilepsy cases. Childhood absence seizures, like Juvenile Absence seizures, are brief staring spells that last only a few seconds but may occur between dozens and hundreds of times per day.
Epilepsy with Grand Mal Seizures upon Awakening (AGM)
This form of epilepsy is unusual in that patients experience most of their seizures shortly after awakening either in the morning or upon awakening from a nap. Seizures are typically grand mal seizures and may include tongue biting, incontinence, and postseizure confusion and fatigue.
Epilepsy with Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures (EGTS or Random Grand Mal)
Random Grand Mal is a form of epilepsy in which grand mal seizures can occur any time of day (but not at night). Seizures typically begin in adolescence.
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE)
BRE is a focal type of epilepsy that affects children around 7 years of age. During a BRE seizure, the child often awakens making grunting noises and has difficulty speaking for a few minutes. A grand mal seizure sometimes follows.