Living with Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures
A rare form of epilepsy that starts in babies, with frequent seizures and loss of developmental skills.
Understanding Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures
Babies may reach early milestones, but as seizures grow more frequent they often stop gaining new skills and may lose ones they had. Seizures usually start in one area of the brain and can move to other areas. They may occur several times a day. After a year or more, they may become less frequent. Seizures can affect brain growth, and many children have developmental delays.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD describes:
- Seizures starting before 6 months
- Seizures that move from one brain area to another
- Loss of skills already learned (developmental regression)
- Unusually small head (microcephaly)
- Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
- Muscle stiffness (spasticity)
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 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
- 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
GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition in the information provided.
Also known as: eimfs; eimfs - epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures; malignant migrating partial epilepsy of infancy
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 Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures.
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