Epilepsy Syndromes

Epilepsy specialists use a variety of factors to classify epilepsy syndromes. The type of seizures is a primary factor, but other factors are also taken into account, including:

• The age of the child when seizures began
• Family history of seizures
• Associated clinical features
• EEG pattern
• Neuroimaging studies
• the likelihood of recovering or worsening

Epileptic seizures are classified as either focal or generalized. Focal seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain activity occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. Seizures are classified as generalized seizures when abnormal electrical brain activity occurs on both sides of the brain.

At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, we treat all types of epilepsy. Below are some of the most common epilepsy types we see in our patients:

Epilepsy Syndromes with Focal Seizures

• Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE, BECT, benign focal epilepsy of childhood) 
• Benign Occipitial Epilepsy 
• Febrile Seizures*

Epilepsy Syndromes with Generalized Seizures

• Childhood Absence Epilepsy 
• Juvenile Absence Epilepsy
• Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy 
• Febrile Seizures*

Epilepsy Syndromes with Mixed Seizure Types

• Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome 
• Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome)

* Febrile Seizures can be either focal or generalized.

Learn more about the types of seizures we treat.