Living with Seizures, benign familial neonatal, 2
A rare genetic condition with short seizures in the first days or months of life that usually clear up on their own.
Understanding Seizures, benign familial neonatal, 2
The seizures come without a trigger and can be clonic (jerking) or tonic-clonic. They last about a minute and may occur several times a day. They usually respond to medication, and almost all babies have full remission within the first months. Rarely, a few seizures occur later in childhood. Tests of the brain's electrical activity, structure, and development are usually normal.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Jerking (clonic) seizures that start in one area
- Seizures lasting about a minute
- Several seizures a day in some babies
- Rarely, later seizures in childhood
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
It is caused by changes in the KCNQ3 gene. It is autosomal dominant, so a single changed copy of the gene is enough.
Also known as: benign neonatal epilepsy 2; benign neonatal seizures caused by mutation in kcnq3; convulsions, benign familial neonatal, 2; kcnq3 benign neonatal seizures; kcnq3-related benign familial neonatal epilepsy; seizures, benign familial neonatal, type 2
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 Seizures, benign familial neonatal, 2.
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