If anyone asks you what Dravet syndrome is - the short answer is: it's a severe form of epilepsy. If they want more details here are some:
- Seizures begin in the first year of life in an otherwise typically developing infant.
- There is currently no cure.
- Initial seizures are most often prolonged events (status epilepticus).
- Individuals with Dravet syndrome face a higher incidence of SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy).
- Children with Dravet syndrome do not outgrow this condition.
- Treatment options are extremely limited.
- Dravet syndrome patients require constant care to assure their safety due to the unpredictability of seizures as well as their inability to recognize real danger.
- Individuals with Dravet syndrome have associated co-morbid conditions that can include:
- Behavior issues and developmental delays
- Deficits in social and learning skills
- Movement and balance issues
- Growth and nutrition issues
- Sleeping difficulties
- Chronic upper respiratory infections
- Sensory integration disorders
- Disruptions of the autonomic nervous system (which regulates things such as body temperature, sweating, and toileting)
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