The most common childhood epilepsy is Benign Rolandic Epilepsy which is also called Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes.
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy affects around 15 percent of all childhood epilepsy cases.
With Benign Rolandic Epilepsy seizures often start between the ages of 2 and 13 and the seizures often involve, numbness or tingling sensations in the tongue or face which can affect speech and even twitching.
The seizures from Benign Rolandic Epilepsy are often focal seizures, which means that they originate in one area of the brain and the seizures are commonly triggered during sleep, especially as the child is falling asleep or waking up.
The benign Rolandic Epilepsy is considered benign because it often resolves on it's own during adolescence, often without any need for medication.
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy is also referred to as Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Central Temporal Spikes.
The most severe type of epilepsy is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe type of epilepsy syndrome that is characterized by multiple types of seizures which include tonic, atonic, atypical absence, myoclonic and generalized tonic clonic seizures.
These types of seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are often resistant to multiple medications and the condition can also cause significant developmental and intellectual challenges.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is considered the most severe type of epilepsy because it involves several different types of seizures and some of which are more likely to cause injuries.
And seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can even often lead to brain damage and cause learning difficulties, developmental setbacks and loss of previously learned abilities.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome seizures are often difficult to control with medications and multiple medications may be required, but complete control of the seizures is rare.
People with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can live into their 50s and 60s although some are more likely to die prematurely as a result of the underlying brain disorder, seizures and injuries, aspiration, accidents, pneumonia or even Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.