Malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy

Malignant migrating partial seizures of infancy is a rare epileptic syndrome that onsets before six months of age. The disorder involves seizures that repeatedly shift location across different areas of the brain with minimal breaks between episodes, causing progressive neurological damage. Its underlying cause remains largely unknown, though mutation of the KCNT1 gene has been shown to be associated with the condition, and the PLCB1 gene has also been implicated as a contributing factor. Affected children experience focal seizures that typically begin within the first few weeks of life, and the condition progresses through phases: an initial period of sporadic motor seizures, followed by a stormy phase of frequent and varied seizures affecting different parts of the body, and eventually a seizure-free period. The continuous seizure activity leads to psychomotor developmental delays and ultimately severe intellectual disability.