Ohtahara syndrome

Ohtahara syndrome is a severe epileptic encephalopathy that begins in the first few months of life. Its outward signs are tonic spasms and partial seizures, and its name comes from a distinctive pattern of burst activity that shows up on an electroencephalogram, the recording of the brain's electrical rhythm. It is also known as early infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, abbreviated EIDEE. The condition is described as a progressive neurological disorder that is extremely debilitating, involving seizures that resist treatment and severe intellectual disability. No single cause has been identified, although in many cases structural damage to the brain is present. This entry follows the summary of a general reference article and records the condition as a description of what is known, not as medical advice.