INTRODUCTION: Dravet syndrome is a drug resistant epilepsy which starts in the 
first year of life with febrile seizures, followed by cognitive impairment and 
epilepsy with multiple seizure types. Diagnosis has been typically made at the 
age of three to four years, but earlier diagnosis is now possible as clinical 
features are better recognised and molecular diagnosis is available.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied a series of 14 children with Dravet syndrome or 
Dravet spectrum epilepsy. A screening test, developed by other authors to 
distinguish the febrile seizures in Dravet syndrome from febrile seizures from 
other origin, was applied to the clinical features of the seizures occurring 
during the first year of life in our patients.
RESULTS: Clinical suspicion of Dravet spectrum epilepsy was possible in 100% of 
children in our series. Moreover, taking into consideration only the first 
seizure, 79% of patients scored sufficiently to detect Dravet syndrome.
CONCLUSIONS: Dravet syndrome can be recognised during the first year of life. It 
is important that physicians are made aware of these clinical criteria capable 
to distinguish febrile seizures in Dravet syndrome from febrile seizures of 
other origin, and set up a protocol to collect appropriate data regarding 
febrile seizures occurring in the first year of life.