Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic problems encountered in children. Epileptic encephalopathies, which are more common in epilepsies with an onset in infancy and childhood, seizures and frequent epileptiform activities have a negative impact on neuropsychological development. Ongoing severe epileptiform activities and seizures impede the normal development of neural networks and cause epileptic encephalopathies. Although epileptic encephalopathies can be seen at every age, an onset in childhood, which is a critical period for development, can be detrimental since not only acquired functions but also expected new functions will be negatively effected. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment for epileptic encephalopathies is important since developmental problems can be prevented in some patients. In addition to other etiologies, genetic causes are becoming more prevalent secondary to gene mutations which are being detected more frequently. Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy is a new term which is being used to connote the neurodevelopmental retardation caused by the genetic mutation itself in addition to seizures and epileptiform activities.
This manuscript aims to evaluate the clinical features and etiological approach in all epileptic, developmental and epileptic encephalopathies such as mostly seen phenotypes like West syndrome and Dravet syndrome in addition to Landau-Kleffner and CSWS syndromes which require a careful differential diagnosis due to language retardation or deterioration, psychomotor retardation and symptoms of autism.

Keywords: Epilepsy, Epileptic encephalopathy,, Developmental encephalopathy, Developmental regression

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How to cite

1.
Değerliyurt A, Yayıcı Köken Ö. Pediatric Epileptic Encephalopathies. Turk J Pediatr Dis [Internet]. 2020 Nov. 30 [cited 2025 Aug. 23];14(6):538-46. Available from: https://turkjpediatrdis.org/article/view/655