Overview

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe form of childhood epilepsy that causes frequent seizures. Several types of seizures are usually present at the same time, including atonic or tonic seizures. These seizures can cause injury.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome may be caused by a variety of brain injuries. Other problems, such as intellectual disability, delays in physical and intellectual growth, and other mental and physical disabilities, may also be present.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can be hard to treat. If medicines do not control the seizures, the ketogenic diet may help. Sometimes, vagus nerve stimulation therapy or a type of brain surgery called corpus callosotomy may be part of the treatment plan. Most children will continue to have seizures throughout life.