Living with Benign familial infantile epilepsy
An inherited seizure condition in otherwise healthy infants between three and eight months old.
Understanding Benign familial infantile epilepsy
Infants between three and eight months old have repeated seizures without fever. Seizure types and some movement problems are listed by GARD. Signs start in newborns and infants.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Seizures without fever
- Seizures affecting one half of the brain
- Pauses in breathing (apnea)
- Involuntary movements
- Writhing movements (athetosis, chorea)
- Muscle stiffness or twisting (dystonia)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Epilepsy Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in genes cause this condition. It is autosomal dominant, so one changed copy of the gene is enough.
Also known as: benign familial infantile convulsion; benign familial infantile convulsions; benign familial infantile seizures; bfic; bfie; bfis
Patient organizations
- Epilepsy FoundationEpilepsy · United States
Broader rare-disease groups
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Benign familial infantile epilepsy.
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