View source for Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

==Background==
* Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy also known as JME or Janz syndrome
* Most common generalized epilepsy syndromes in adolescents
* 1 in 1000 children
* Seizures start between 5 and 16 years old
* Sleep deprivation and stress are two very common triggers of myoclonic jerks and tonic clonic seizures. 
* Sometimes triggered by flickering light


==Clinic==
* Typically myoclonic jerks that occur after sleep. 
* Sometimes the myoclonic jerks are only in the fingers causing the patient dropping things.
* During the myoclonic jerks the patients are normally awake.
*Most of the patients have generalized tonic-clonic seizures 
*Absence seizures in around 30-40% of the patients


==EEG==
* Generalized 3- to 6-Hz [[Spike slow wave complex]] or most often [[Polyspikes slow wave complex]]lasting 1-20 seconds
* Occasionally, short periods generalized [[Spikes and sharp waves]] can also be seen.
* Photosensitivity in 50% of the patients
* Normal background rhythm
* Focal abnormalities in a small amount of patients
* A morning EEG is more sensitive (69% epileptiform discharges) compared to afternoon EEG


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'''''Generalized (poly)spike slow wave in a 15 year old male with JME (source) '''''
[[File:Juvenile_myoclonic_epilepsy_in_a_15_year_old_male_(source)_EEGpedia.png|border|none|1200px|left]]


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