Atypical Pediatric Epilepsy: A Narrative Review of Classification, Diagnosis, and Emerging Therapeutics
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Atypical pediatric epilepsies represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by uncommon etiologies, variable clinical presentations, and frequent resistance to standard antiseizure medications. Recent advances in classification, along with developments in genomics, neuroimaging, and autoimmune neurology, have expanded the recognized spectrum of these conditions. However, a significant proportion of children remain without a definitive syndromic diagnosis, underscoring ongoing limitations in current frameworks. This review provides a comprehensive overview of atypical epilepsy in children, including evolving classification systems, epidemiology, and etiological mechanisms spanning genetic, structural, metabolic, and immune-mediated causes. Key syndromes - including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, and febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome - are discussed with emphasis on clinical features, differential diagnosis, and prognosis. Diagnostic challenges such as phenotypic overlap, EEG limitations, and barriers to timely genetic testing are also examined. Emerging therapeutic strategies highlight a paradigm shift from broad-spectrum seizure control toward precision medicine, including targeted pharmacologic agents, antisense oligonucleotides, gene therapies, and neuromodulation approaches. Improved recognition and classification of atypical epilepsies, coupled with early implementation of targeted therapies, are essential to optimize outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Source: Cureus
Authors: Migdalia Iglesias, Kevin Sherin
Institution: Florida State University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215915262