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Living with Infant epilepsy with migrant focal crisis

A very rare infant epilepsy with muscle jerks that move around the body and a progressive brain condition.

Understanding Infant epilepsy with migrant focal crisis

Infant epilepsy with migrant focal crisis is a rare epilepsy syndrome with early-onset progressive brain disease (encephalopathy) and muscle jerks (myoclonus) that move around the body.

GARD says three cases have been reported. Continuous focal muscle jerks appeared in the first months of life. Longer seizures involving both sides of the body came later, followed by low muscle tone and poor coordination. Scans showed shrinkage of the brain's outer layer (cortical atrophy).

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD describes these:

  • Continuous muscle jerks (myoclonus) in the first months of life
  • Long seizures that involve both sides of the body
  • Generalized tonic-clonic seizures
  • Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
  • Poor coordination (ataxia)
  • Brain shrinkage seen on scans

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect 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
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which tests, like EEG and MRI, are used to track this condition?
What seizure care options exist for my child?
Which specialists should be part of our care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild

The cause is unknown.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: early-onset progressive encephalopathy with migrant continuous myoclonus

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Infant epilepsy with migrant focal crisisGARD ID 2995 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Infant epilepsy with migrant focal crisis.

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