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Updated: May 27, 2026
A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy
Published on: July 12, 2021
[Febrile seizures in the first year of life: Dravet spectrum epilepsy?]
R Sánchez-Carpintero1, M T Núñez, N Aznárez
1Unidad de Neurología Infantil, Departamento de Pediatría, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España. rsanchezc@unav.es
Insights
Dravet syndrome, a severe epilepsy starting in infancy, can now be identified earlier. A new screening tool accurately detects Dravet syndrome in infants, enabling prompt diagnosis and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Epilepsy research
- Pediatric neurology
- Clinical diagnostics
Context:
- Dravet syndrome is a severe, drug-resistant epilepsy beginning in the first year of life.
- Typical diagnosis occurs between ages three and four, delaying crucial early interventions.
- Advances in recognizing clinical features and molecular diagnostics enable earlier detection.
Purpose:
- To evaluate a screening test for early Dravet syndrome detection in infants.
- To assess the test's efficacy in distinguishing Dravet syndrome febrile seizures from other causes.
- To determine the feasibility of diagnosing Dravet syndrome within the first year of life.
Summary:
- A study applied a screening test to 14 children with Dravet syndrome or spectrum epilepsy.
- The test analyzed clinical features of seizures occurring in the first year of life.
- Clinical suspicion of Dravet syndrome was achieved in 100% of cases, with 79% detected after the first seizure.
Impact:
- Dravet syndrome can be recognized in infants, significantly earlier than previously possible.
- Physicians can utilize specific clinical criteria to identify febrile seizures characteristic of Dravet syndrome.
- Implementing diagnostic protocols for early-stage febrile seizures can improve patient outcomes.
Introduction:
Dravet syndrome is a drug resistant epilepsy which starts in the first year of life with febrile seizures, followed by cognitive impairment and epilepsy with multiple seizure types. Diagnosis has been typically made at the age of three to four years, but earlier diagnosis is now possible as clinical features are better recognised and molecular diagnosis is available.
Patients And Methods:
We studied a series of 14 children with Dravet syndrome or Dravet spectrum epilepsy. A screening test, developed by other authors to distinguish the febrile seizures in Dravet syndrome from febrile seizures from other origin, was applied to the clinical features of the seizures occurring during the first year of life in our patients.
Results:
Clinical suspicion of Dravet spectrum epilepsy was possible in 100% of children in our series. Moreover, taking into consideration only the first seizure, 79% of patients scored sufficiently to detect Dravet syndrome.
Conclusions:
Dravet syndrome can be recognised during the first year of life. It is important that physicians are made aware of these clinical criteria capable to distinguish febrile seizures in Dravet syndrome from febrile seizures of other origin, and set up a protocol to collect appropriate data regarding febrile seizures occurring in the first year of life.
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