Skip to main content
Go to homepage

Print Page

A to Z: Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

May also be called: JME; Adolescent Myoclonic Epilepsy; Janz Syndrome

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder where electrical signals in the brain misfire, causing temporary communication problems between nerve cells. Someone who gets repeated seizures is thought to have epilepsy.

Kids and teens with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) have multiple seizures that usually start around puberty and continue into adulthood unless the seizures are controlled by medicine.

More to Know

People with JME may have different kinds of seizures. The most common are called myoclonic jerks, in which a person can have quick jerks in the arms, legs, or shoulders, often just one one side of the body. .

Absence seizures (previously called petit mal seizures) can cause rapid blinking or a few seconds of staring into space.

Tonic-clonic seizures (previously called grand mal seizures) can make a person lose consciousness, fall to the ground, and have full body muscle jerks or spasms.

Tonic means the muscles in the body become stiff. Clonic refers to periods of shaking or jerking in parts on the body. Myoclonic means brief jerking in parts of the body.

Keep in Mind

Seizures can be triggered by a lack of sleep, extreme tiredness, stress, or alcohol consumption. Managing triggers and taking medicine can help prevent seizures for most people with JME.

All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts.

Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts

What next?

Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
There are 10 nurses in the picture.

And we have many more pediatric primary care providers in Northeast Ohio. You can meet some of them here.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The five differences are:
– Phone color
– Coat pocket
– Stethoscope earpiece color
– Stethoscope bell dot
– Clipboard paper color

Need help finding a doctor, choosing a location or getting a general question about Akron Children's answered? Call us or fill out the form and we'll help in any way we can.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The two matching doctors are 9 and 14.

With virtual visits, you can see our pediatric experts from the comfort of home or wherever you are.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The correct path:
The Correct Path
We offer many ways to get pediatric care all over Northeast Ohio. Use this page to find the right kind of care and the most convenient location for you.