Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures or GEFS refers to a genetic disorder of the central nervous system. The defect causes 3% of children under 6 to experience convulsions during fever. Those that develop generalized epilepsy later in life are diagnosed with GEFS. It is characterised by febrile and afebrile generalised seizures in childhood and respond well to standard antiepileptic treatments.

The disorder is mapped to beta subunit of the neuronal sodium channel (SCN1B). The mutation slows the rate of inactivation of the sodium channel, leading to hyperexcitability. This causes the rapid uncontrolled firing of action potentials in the brain which typifies all forms of epilepsy.^*

See also

Neurology