Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects neurons in the brain. It stems from abnormal electrical activities and signals in the brain, causing unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy in children is more common than in adults and roughly, 1% of children are diagnosed with epilepsy. Epilepsy can usually be treated with medicines. However, for some patients, seizures do not stop regardless of the medication used. At this point, epilepsy surgery may be the best treatment option. Seizures can be stopped or limited with pediatric epilepsy surgery.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures without any triggering factor. A seizure is typically marked by a sudden alteration in physical and emotional behaviors, caused by a temporary disruption in the brain’s electrical activity.
What causes of epilepsy in children?
There are many causes of epilepsy in children. These include intrauterine infections, birth asphyxia (deprivation of oxygen to a newborn infant), neurocutaneous syndromes that affect the skin and brain, genetic and metabolic diseases, developmental cerebral malformations, tumors, cysts, etc.
What are signs of epilepsy in children?
Symptoms of epilepsy in children are manifested by a forward drop of the head, rotation of the head to one side, drooling, involuntary jerky movements in the hands, arms, and legs, urinary incontinence, loss of consciousness, and severe sleepiness.
What are the symptoms of epilepsy in children?
Depending on the severity of the disorder, signs of epilepsy in children can manifest as the following symptoms:
- Sudden muscle contractions
- Uncontrolled shaking of the arms, legs, or head
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
- Drowsiness and lack of response to sounds or conversations
- Various psychological issues, such as fear or anxiety
What are the types of epilepsy in children?
There are many different types of seizures. The most common one is generalized tonic-clonic convulsion. It is manifested by abnormal muscle contraction, spasms, and jerky movements in the entire body. Besides, absence seizures are characterized by lapses in awareness only for 5 to 10 seconds and complex partial seizures that are manifested by aimless movements (automatism) and last several minutes as well as atonic seizures characterized by sudden drop or myoclonic seizures that imply sudden jerky movements are common in childhood. Some patients develop more than one type of seizure in a single episode.
How is epilepsy in children diagnosed?
A reliable epilepsy diagnosis in children relies on medical history or witnessing the seizure. EEG, Cranial MRI, PET, SPECT, and neuropsychological evaluation help establish the diagnosis of epilepsy. At Acıbadem, Video EEG is used as a valuable tool for the diagnosis of epilepsy. It monitors the brain activity of patients for 48 hours or longer. Video EEG helps determine which patients are good candidates for epilepsy surgery.
How is epilepsy in children treatment?
Medical and surgical treatments for epilepsy in children are available at the Acıbadem Neurosurgery Department. To develop the most optimal treatment plan for each patient, various departments such as Pediatric Epileptology, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Clinical Psychology, Neuroradiology, Speech Therapy, and Physiotherapy collaborate in our center.
The first-line treatment is oral medication for a patient who is diagnosed with epilepsy. The medicine is decided according to the type of seizure, classification of epilepsy, and EEG and MRI data. There are many antiepileptic agents. Each medicine may have certain side effects. The most common side effects are rashes, elevated hepatic function tests and suppression of the bone marrow. Family members are warned and informed about the side effects of the drug. Liver functions and blood counts should be analyzed at regular intervals as long as certain medicines are taken.
Surgical treatment is an option for patients who are refractory to medication treatment. For such patients, surgical techniques include focal resection (removal of the diseased area of the brain), corpus callosotomy (disconnecting both halves of the brain), hemispherotomy (disconnecting the diseased hemisphere from the healthy hemisphere, if the damage is confined to one hemisphere) and stimulators (vagal nerve stimulation).
When should I see a healthcare provider?
Seizures are the most significant signs of epilepsy in children. However, even without a history of seizures in children, symptoms such as blank staring, a sense of detachment, and non-purposeful, repetitive movements like lip smacking can raise suspicion of epilepsy. Noticing these symptoms of epilepsy in children suggests visiting a pediatric neurologist. A physical examination, MRI, and EEG determine if there is a problem in the brain.
Epilepsy in children in Turkey
At Acıbadem, as with all neurological institutions worldwide, epilepsy is initially treated with medication. However, it is known that 25% of epileptic patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy. It means that seizures do not stop no matter which medication is administered. Stopping seizures of epilepsy is crucial because a child’s brain is still developing. Each seizure causes brain cell death, and these cells are not replaced by new ones. Consequently, frequent seizures in children may suffer irreversible brain damage and not develop normally. The goal is to prevent this by stopping the seizures through certain surgical interventions. Pediatric epilepsy surgery can help stop or reduce the number of seizures in children. This enhances their quality of life.
Why Acıbadem for Treatment?
Acıbadem Neurosurgery Department is reputable in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Managing epilepsy in children requires a specialized team. At Acıbadem, this is achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. The treatment process is planned, carried out, and supervised by a comprehensive team. It includes a pediatric neurosurgeon, pediatric neurologist, neuro-radiologist, pediatric psychiatrist and EEG technician. If epilepsy is drug-resistant, surgical treatment options are evaluated by the Acıbadem Pediatric Neurosurgery team. The optimal treatment strategy is determined, meticulously planned, executed, and supervised by Acıbadem’s experts.
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