![]() However, the “self-induced” designation may be inaccurate. Sunflower syndrome was originally described as a self-induced photosensitive epilepsy. Children often report that they are told to “just stop” causing themselves to have seizures. Children with Sunflower syndrome may also experience added stress from clinicians, family members and friends who believe that the hand waving episodes are self-induced and under conscious control. Some patients also report experiencing anxiety, which may in part be caused by the inability to prevent or control hand waving episodes. Children who experience tonic-clonic seizures are at additional risk of injury at the time of those seizures. Furthermore, these disruptions in consciousness may pose a safety risk depending on the child’s activity at the time of the hand waving episode. ![]() Because individuals with Sunflower syndrome experience brief disruptions in consciousness, hand waving episodes can impact one’s ability to attend and learn. The impacts of Sunflower syndrome have not been fully explored. Other individuals report that focusing on specific tasks while in the presence of bright lights can reduce the frequency of hand waving. Some individuals with Sunflower syndrome and their parents report that providing shade from bright light (via a baseball cap, tinted sunglasses or welder’s glasses) can help reduce the frequency of hand waving episodes. For this reason, it is unknown if any anticonvulsant medications or treatments are particularly effective. There have not been any clinical trials to investigate the effectiveness of treatments for Sunflower syndrome. For this reason, your doctor may obtain an EEG. However, individuals with Sunflower syndrome have abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs) with features consistent with generalized epilepsy. There is currently no clinical or laboratory standard for diagnosing Sunflower syndrome. For some, tonic-clonic seizures occur after prolonged exposure to bright light and prolonged hand waving episodes. These include absence seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Patients with Sunflower syndrome can also experience other types of seizures. The attraction to light often precedes the onset of handwaving episodes by days to months. As stated above, these episodes typically start before the age of ten. Symptoms of Sunflower syndrome include an initial attraction to bright light, followed by seizure activity that includes episodes of hand waving and disruptions of consciousness. Watch a Boston Globe video about our research What are the symptoms of Sunflower syndrome? Currently, we are conducting research to identify and understand the underlying genetics involved with the disorder. This suggests that there may be a genetic component. However, the disorder is highly stereotyped and typically begins during the first decade of life. What causes Sunflower syndrome?Īs of today, it is not known what causes Sunflower syndrome. This unique behavior is coupled with abrupt lapses in consciousness. During these seizures, individuals with Sunflower syndrome turn toward a bright light while simultaneously waving one hand in front of their eyes. Sunflower syndrome is a rare, epileptic disorder characterized by highly stereotyped seizures. Billing, Insurance & Financial Assistance.
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