BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEpilepsy in childrenSeizure disorder - children; Convulsion - childhood epilepsy; Medically refractory childhood epilepsy; Anticonvulsant - childhood epilepsy; Antiepileptic drug - childhood epilepsy; AED - childhood epilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure" is often...Read Article Now Book Mark Article A seizure is a sudden change in the electrical and chemical activity in the brain. A single seizure that does not happen again is NOT epilepsy.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes Epilepsy may be due to a medical condition or injury that affects the brain. Or the cause may be unknown.Common causes of epilepsy include:Traumatic brain injury Damage or scarring after infections of the brain Birth defects that involve the brain Brain injury that occurs during or near birth Metabolic disorders present at birth (such as phenylketonuria) PhenylketonuriaPhenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare condition in which a baby is born without the ability to properly break down an amino acid called phenylalanine....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Benign brain tumor, often very small Abnormal blood vessels in the brain Abnormal blood vessels in the brainA cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stroke StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other illnesses that damage or destroy brain tissueEpileptic seizures usually start between ages 5 and 20. But they can happen at any age. There may be a family history of seizures or epilepsy.A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a child triggered by a fever. Most of the time, a febrile seizure is not a sign that the child has epilepsy.Febrile seizureA febrile seizure is a convulsion in a child triggered by a fever.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ConvulsionA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure" is often...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms vary from child to child. Some children may simply stare. Others may shake violently and lose alertness. The movements or symptoms of a seizure may depend on the part of the brain that is affected.Your child's health care provider can tell you more about the specific type of seizure your child may have:Absence (petit mal) seizure: Staring spells Absence (petit mal) seizureAn absence seizure is the term for a type of seizure involving staring spells. This type of seizure is a brief (usually less than 15 seconds) distur...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure: Involves the entire body, including aura, rigid muscles, and loss of alertness Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) se...Generalized tonic-clonic seizure is a type of seizure that involves the entire body. It is also called grand mal seizure. The terms seizure, convul...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Partial (focal) seizure: Can involve any of the symptoms described above, depending on where in the brain the seizure startsPartial (focal) seizureAll seizures are caused by abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain. Partial (focal) seizures occur when this electrical activity remains in a ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Most of the time, the seizure is similar to the one before it. Some children have a strange sensation before a seizure. Sensations may be tingling, smelling an odor that is not actually there, feeling fear or anxiety for no reason or having a sense of déjà vu (feeling that something has happened before). This is called an aura. Exams and Tests The provider will:Ask about your child's medical and family history in detail Ask about the seizure episode Do a physical exam of your child, including a detailed look at the brain and nervous systemThe provider will order an EEG (electroencephalogram) to check the electrical activity in the brain. This test often shows any abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In some cases, the test shows the area in the brain where the seizures start. The brain may appear normal after a seizure or between seizures.EEG (electroencephalogram)An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain.Read Article Now Book Mark Article To diagnose epilepsy or plan for epilepsy surgery, your child may need to:Wear an EEG recorder for few days during day-to-day activities Stay in the hospital where brain activity can be watched on video cameras (video EEG)The provider also may order other tests, including:Blood chemistry Blood sugar Blood sugarA blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood count (CBC)A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The tota...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney function tests Kidney function testsKidney function tests are common lab tests used to evaluate how well the kidneys are working. Such tests include:BUN (Blood urea nitrogen) Creatinin...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Tests for infectious diseasesHead CT or MRI scan are often done to find the cause and location of the problem in the brain. Much less often, PET scan of the brain is needed to help plan surgery. Head CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.Read Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PET scan of the brainA brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test of the brain. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment for epilepsy includes:Medicines Lifestyle changes SurgeryIf your child's epilepsy is due to a tumor, abnormal blood vessels, or bleeding in the brain, surgery may be needed.Medicines to prevent seizures are called anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs. These may reduce the number of future seizures.These medicines are taken by mouth. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the type of seizure your child has. The dosage may need to be changed from time to time. The provider may order regular blood tests to check for side effects. Always make sure your child takes the medicine on time and as directed. Missing a dose can cause your child to have a seizure. Do NOT stop or change medicines on your own. Talk to the provider first.Many epilepsy drugs may affect your child's bone health. Talk to your child's provider about whether your child needs vitamins and other supplements.Epilepsy that is not well controlled after trying a number of antiseizure drugs is called "medically refractory epilepsy." In this case, the doctor may recommend surgery to:Remove the abnormal brain cells causing the seizures. Place a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS). This device is similar to a heart pacemaker. It can help reduce the number of seizures.Some children are placed on a special diet to help prevent seizures. The most popular one is the ketogenic diet. A diet low in carbohydrates, such as the Atkins diet, also may be helpful. Be sure to discuss these options with your child's provider before trying them.Epilepsy is often a lifelong or chronic illness. Important management issues include:Taking medicines Staying safe, such as never swimming alone, fall-proofing your home and so on Managing stress and sleep Avoiding alcohol and drug abuse Keeping up in school Managing other illnessesManaging these lifestyle or medical issues at home can be a challenge. Be sure to talk with your child's provider if you have concerns.Managing these lifestyle or medical iss...Your child has epilepsy. People with epilepsy have seizures. A seizure is a sudden brief change in the electrical and chemical activity in the brai...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Support Groups The stress of being a caretaker of a child with epilepsy can often be helped by joining a support group. In these groups, members share common experiences and problems.Support groupThe following organizations are good resources for information on epilepsy:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- www. cdc. gov/epilepsy/index...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Most children with epilepsy live a normal life. Certain types of childhood epilepsy go away or improve with age, usually in the late teens or 20s. If your child does not have seizures for a few years, the provider may stop medicines.For many children, epilepsy is a lifelong condition. In these cases, the medicines need to be continued.Children who have developmental disorders in addition to epilepsy may face challenges throughout their life.Knowing more about the condition will help you take better care of your child's epilepsy.Knowing more about the conditionYour child has epilepsy. Children with epilepsy have seizures. A seizure is a sudden brief change in the electrical activity in the brain. Your ch...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications may include:Difficulty learning Breathing in food or saliva into the lungs during a seizure, which can cause aspiration pneumonia Aspiration pneumoniaPneumonia is inflammation (swelling) and infection of the lungs or large airways. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when food or liquid is breathed into th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Irregular heartbeat Injury from falls, bumps, or self-caused bites during a seizure Permanent brain damage (stroke or other damage) Side effects of medicines When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if:This is the first time your child has a seizure A seizure occurs in a child who is not wearing a medical ID bracelet (which has instructions explaining what to do)If your child has had seizures before, call 911 or the local emergency number for any of these emergency situations:The seizure is longer than the child normally has or the child has an unusual number of seizures The child has repeated seizures over a few minutes The child has repeated seizures in which consciousness or normal behavior is not regained between them (status epilepticus) The child gets injured during the seizure The child has difficulty breathingCall the provider if your child has new symptoms:Nausea or vomiting Rash Side effects of medicines, such as drowsiness, restlessness, or confusion Tremors or abnormal movements, or problems with coordinationContact the provider even if your child is normal after the seizure has stopped. Prevention There is no known way to prevent epilepsy. Proper diet and sleep may decrease the chances of seizures in children with epilepsy.Reduce the risk of head injury during risky activities. This can decrease the likelihood of a brain injury that leads to seizures and epilepsy.Open ReferencesReferencesDwivedi R, Ramanujam B, Chandra PS, et al. Surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy in children. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(17):1639-1647. PMID: 29069568 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29069568/.Ghatan S, McGoldrick PE, Kokoszka MA, Wolf SM. Pediatric epilepsy surgery. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 240.Kanner AM, Ashman E, Gloss D, et al. Practice guideline update summary: efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs I: treatment of new-onset epilepsy: report of the American Epilepsy Society and the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Epilepsy Curr. 2018;18(4):260-268. PMID: 30254527 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30254527/.Mikati MA, Tchapyjnikov D. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 611.Pearl PL. Overview of seizures and epilepsy in children. In: Swaiman K, Ashwal S, Ferriero DM, et al, eds. Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 61.AllVideoImagesTogEpilepsyAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersEpilepsy - Animation Having a brain seizure can be a terrifying experience. If you have a seizure more than once, you may have epilepsy, a problem with electrical activity in your brain. So, what causes epilepsy? For most people, the brain sends electrical signals throughout the body efficiently, in a coordinated way. In epilepsy, however, the normal pattern of electrical activity becomes disturbed. This causes the brain to be too excitable, or jumpy, and it sends out abnormal signals. The result is repeated seizures that can happen at any time. Epilepsy seizures usually begin between ages 5 and 20, but they can happen at any age. Common causes include Stroke, or a mini-stroke called transient ischemic attack; Dementia, or loss of brain function, such as Alzheimer's disease; Traumatic brain injury; Infections in the brain; Brain problems you are born with; or perhaps, a Brain tumor. Some people with epilepsy may have simple staring spells, while others have violent, uncontrollable shaking and loss of consciousness. Before each seizure, some people may have strange sensations, such as tingling, smelling an odor that isn't really there, or emotional changes. This is called an aura. Your doctor will perform a number of tests to find out if epilepsy is causing your seizures. One test, an electroencephalogram or EEG, checks your brain's electrical activity. Other tests can take detailed pictures of the part of your brain that is causing your seizures. Your doctor will most likely start treating your epilepsy with medication. These medicines, called anticonvulsants, may reduce the number of seizures you have in the future. Sometimes, changing the diet of a child with epilepsy can help prevent seizures. Your doctor will probably talk to you about making some changes in your life, such as reducing your stress, getting more sleep, and avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs. Surgery to remove a brain tumor or abnormal blood vessels or brain cells may make the seizures stop. Another surgery can place a Vagus nerve stimulator in your brain. This device is like a pacemaker for your brain that limits the number of seizures you have. For many people, epilepsy is a lifelong problem, and they'll always need to take anti-seizure medicines. There is a very low risk of sudden death with epilepsy. However, you, or someone else, can be seriously injured if you have a seizure while driving or operating equipment. If your seizures are uncontrolled, you should not drive.EpilepsyAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersEpilepsy - Animation Having a brain seizure can be a terrifying experience. If you have a seizure more than once, you may have epilepsy, a problem with electrical activity in your brain. So, what causes epilepsy? For most people, the brain sends electrical signals throughout the body efficiently, in a coordinated way. In epilepsy, however, the normal pattern of electrical activity becomes disturbed. This causes the brain to be too excitable, or jumpy, and it sends out abnormal signals. The result is repeated seizures that can happen at any time. Epilepsy seizures usually begin between ages 5 and 20, but they can happen at any age. Common causes include Stroke, or a mini-stroke called transient ischemic attack; Dementia, or loss of brain function, such as Alzheimer's disease; Traumatic brain injury; Infections in the brain; Brain problems you are born with; or perhaps, a Brain tumor. Some people with epilepsy may have simple staring spells, while others have violent, uncontrollable shaking and loss of consciousness. Before each seizure, some people may have strange sensations, such as tingling, smelling an odor that isn't really there, or emotional changes. This is called an aura. Your doctor will perform a number of tests to find out if epilepsy is causing your seizures. One test, an electroencephalogram or EEG, checks your brain's electrical activity. Other tests can take detailed pictures of the part of your brain that is causing your seizures. Your doctor will most likely start treating your epilepsy with medication. These medicines, called anticonvulsants, may reduce the number of seizures you have in the future. Sometimes, changing the diet of a child with epilepsy can help prevent seizures. Your doctor will probably talk to you about making some changes in your life, such as reducing your stress, getting more sleep, and avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs. Surgery to remove a brain tumor or abnormal blood vessels or brain cells may make the seizures stop. Another surgery can place a Vagus nerve stimulator in your brain. This device is like a pacemaker for your brain that limits the number of seizures you have. For many people, epilepsy is a lifelong problem, and they'll always need to take anti-seizure medicines. There is a very low risk of sudden death with epilepsy. However, you, or someone else, can be seriously injured if you have a seizure while driving or operating equipment. If your seizures are uncontrolled, you should not drive.Talking to your MD Epilepsy in children - what to ask your doctorRelated Information Review Date: 6/23/2020 Reviewed By: Amit M. Shelat, DO, FACP, FAAN, Attending Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Epilepsy in childrenSeizure disorder - children; Convulsion - childhood epilepsy; Medically refractory childhood epilepsy; Anticonvulsant - childhood epilepsy; Antiepileptic drug - childhood epilepsy; AED - childhood epilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure" is often...Read Article Now Book Mark Article A seizure is a sudden change in the electrical and chemical activity in the brain. A single seizure that does not happen again is NOT epilepsy.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes Epilepsy may be due to a medical condition or injury that affects the brain. Or the cause may be unknown.Common causes of epilepsy include:Traumatic brain injury Damage or scarring after infections of the brain Birth defects that involve the brain Brain injury that occurs during or near birth Metabolic disorders present at birth (such as phenylketonuria) PhenylketonuriaPhenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare condition in which a baby is born without the ability to properly break down an amino acid called phenylalanine....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Benign brain tumor, often very small Abnormal blood vessels in the brain Abnormal blood vessels in the brainA cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stroke StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other illnesses that damage or destroy brain tissueEpileptic seizures usually start between ages 5 and 20. But they can happen at any age. There may be a family history of seizures or epilepsy.A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a child triggered by a fever. Most of the time, a febrile seizure is not a sign that the child has epilepsy.Febrile seizureA febrile seizure is a convulsion in a child triggered by a fever.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ConvulsionA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure" is often...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms vary from child to child. Some children may simply stare. Others may shake violently and lose alertness. The movements or symptoms of a seizure may depend on the part of the brain that is affected.Your child's health care provider can tell you more about the specific type of seizure your child may have:Absence (petit mal) seizure: Staring spells Absence (petit mal) seizureAn absence seizure is the term for a type of seizure involving staring spells. This type of seizure is a brief (usually less than 15 seconds) distur...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure: Involves the entire body, including aura, rigid muscles, and loss of alertness Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) se...Generalized tonic-clonic seizure is a type of seizure that involves the entire body. It is also called grand mal seizure. The terms seizure, convul...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Partial (focal) seizure: Can involve any of the symptoms described above, depending on where in the brain the seizure startsPartial (focal) seizureAll seizures are caused by abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain. Partial (focal) seizures occur when this electrical activity remains in a ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Most of the time, the seizure is similar to the one before it. Some children have a strange sensation before a seizure. Sensations may be tingling, smelling an odor that is not actually there, feeling fear or anxiety for no reason or having a sense of déjà vu (feeling that something has happened before). This is called an aura. Exams and Tests The provider will:Ask about your child's medical and family history in detail Ask about the seizure episode Do a physical exam of your child, including a detailed look at the brain and nervous systemThe provider will order an EEG (electroencephalogram) to check the electrical activity in the brain. This test often shows any abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In some cases, the test shows the area in the brain where the seizures start. The brain may appear normal after a seizure or between seizures.EEG (electroencephalogram)An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain.Read Article Now Book Mark Article To diagnose epilepsy or plan for epilepsy surgery, your child may need to:Wear an EEG recorder for few days during day-to-day activities Stay in the hospital where brain activity can be watched on video cameras (video EEG)The provider also may order other tests, including:Blood chemistry Blood sugar Blood sugarA blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood count (CBC)A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The tota...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney function tests Kidney function testsKidney function tests are common lab tests used to evaluate how well the kidneys are working. Such tests include:BUN (Blood urea nitrogen) Creatinin...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Tests for infectious diseasesHead CT or MRI scan are often done to find the cause and location of the problem in the brain. Much less often, PET scan of the brain is needed to help plan surgery. Head CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.Read Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PET scan of the brainA brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test of the brain. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment for epilepsy includes:Medicines Lifestyle changes SurgeryIf your child's epilepsy is due to a tumor, abnormal blood vessels, or bleeding in the brain, surgery may be needed.Medicines to prevent seizures are called anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs. These may reduce the number of future seizures.These medicines are taken by mouth. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the type of seizure your child has. The dosage may need to be changed from time to time. The provider may order regular blood tests to check for side effects. Always make sure your child takes the medicine on time and as directed. Missing a dose can cause your child to have a seizure. Do NOT stop or change medicines on your own. Talk to the provider first.Many epilepsy drugs may affect your child's bone health. Talk to your child's provider about whether your child needs vitamins and other supplements.Epilepsy that is not well controlled after trying a number of antiseizure drugs is called "medically refractory epilepsy." In this case, the doctor may recommend surgery to:Remove the abnormal brain cells causing the seizures. Place a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS). This device is similar to a heart pacemaker. It can help reduce the number of seizures.Some children are placed on a special diet to help prevent seizures. The most popular one is the ketogenic diet. A diet low in carbohydrates, such as the Atkins diet, also may be helpful. Be sure to discuss these options with your child's provider before trying them.Epilepsy is often a lifelong or chronic illness. Important management issues include:Taking medicines Staying safe, such as never swimming alone, fall-proofing your home and so on Managing stress and sleep Avoiding alcohol and drug abuse Keeping up in school Managing other illnessesManaging these lifestyle or medical issues at home can be a challenge. Be sure to talk with your child's provider if you have concerns.Managing these lifestyle or medical iss...Your child has epilepsy. People with epilepsy have seizures. A seizure is a sudden brief change in the electrical and chemical activity in the brai...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Support Groups The stress of being a caretaker of a child with epilepsy can often be helped by joining a support group. In these groups, members share common experiences and problems.Support groupThe following organizations are good resources for information on epilepsy:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- www. cdc. gov/epilepsy/index...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Most children with epilepsy live a normal life. Certain types of childhood epilepsy go away or improve with age, usually in the late teens or 20s. If your child does not have seizures for a few years, the provider may stop medicines.For many children, epilepsy is a lifelong condition. In these cases, the medicines need to be continued.Children who have developmental disorders in addition to epilepsy may face challenges throughout their life.Knowing more about the condition will help you take better care of your child's epilepsy.Knowing more about the conditionYour child has epilepsy. Children with epilepsy have seizures. A seizure is a sudden brief change in the electrical activity in the brain. Your ch...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications may include:Difficulty learning Breathing in food or saliva into the lungs during a seizure, which can cause aspiration pneumonia Aspiration pneumoniaPneumonia is inflammation (swelling) and infection of the lungs or large airways. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when food or liquid is breathed into th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Irregular heartbeat Injury from falls, bumps, or self-caused bites during a seizure Permanent brain damage (stroke or other damage) Side effects of medicines When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if:This is the first time your child has a seizure A seizure occurs in a child who is not wearing a medical ID bracelet (which has instructions explaining what to do)If your child has had seizures before, call 911 or the local emergency number for any of these emergency situations:The seizure is longer than the child normally has or the child has an unusual number of seizures The child has repeated seizures over a few minutes The child has repeated seizures in which consciousness or normal behavior is not regained between them (status epilepticus) The child gets injured during the seizure The child has difficulty breathingCall the provider if your child has new symptoms:Nausea or vomiting Rash Side effects of medicines, such as drowsiness, restlessness, or confusion Tremors or abnormal movements, or problems with coordinationContact the provider even if your child is normal after the seizure has stopped. Prevention There is no known way to prevent epilepsy. Proper diet and sleep may decrease the chances of seizures in children with epilepsy.Reduce the risk of head injury during risky activities. This can decrease the likelihood of a brain injury that leads to seizures and epilepsy.Open ReferencesReferencesDwivedi R, Ramanujam B, Chandra PS, et al. Surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy in children. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(17):1639-1647. PMID: 29069568 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29069568/.Ghatan S, McGoldrick PE, Kokoszka MA, Wolf SM. Pediatric epilepsy surgery. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 240.Kanner AM, Ashman E, Gloss D, et al. Practice guideline update summary: efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs I: treatment of new-onset epilepsy: report of the American Epilepsy Society and the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Epilepsy Curr. 2018;18(4):260-268. PMID: 30254527 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30254527/.Mikati MA, Tchapyjnikov D. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 611.Pearl PL. Overview of seizures and epilepsy in children. In: Swaiman K, Ashwal S, Ferriero DM, et al, eds. Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 61.
