What are the main causes of seizures in children. How can parents recognize different types of seizures. What are the symptoms of epilepsy in children. When should a child be diagnosed with epilepsy. How do focal seizures differ from generalized seizures.

The Fundamentals of Childhood Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects children worldwide, causing recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Understanding this disorder is crucial for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure proper management and support for affected children.

Seizures occur when there’s a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain, disrupting normal neural communication. While a single seizure doesn’t necessarily indicate epilepsy, a diagnosis is typically made when a child experiences two or more unprovoked seizures.

Common Causes of Seizures in Children

• High fever (febrile seizures)
• Blood sugar imbalances
• Head injuries or concussions
• Genetic factors
• Brain infections or tumors
• Developmental disorders

Can all seizures in children be attributed to epilepsy? No, not all seizures indicate epilepsy. Some seizures may be provoked by specific circumstances, such as high fever or head trauma. Epilepsy is diagnosed when a child has recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

Focal Seizures: Understanding Localized Brain Activity

Focal seizures, also known as partial seizures, originate in a specific area of the brain. These seizures can be further classified into two main types: simple focal seizures and complex focal seizures.

Simple Focal Seizures

During a simple focal seizure, a child remains conscious but may experience unusual sensations or movements in a specific part of the body. The symptoms depend on which area of the brain is affected:

• Visual disturbances if the occipital lobe is involved
• Isolated muscle movements in fingers, arms, or legs
• Sweating, nausea, or paleness

Do simple focal seizures always affect motor functions? Not necessarily. While muscle movements are common, simple focal seizures can also manifest as sensory disturbances or autonomic symptoms, depending on the brain region involved.

Complex Focal Seizures

Complex focal seizures often originate in the temporal lobe, affecting emotions and memory. Key characteristics include:

• Altered consciousness or awareness
• Unusual behaviors like lip smacking, gagging, or running
• Emotional responses such as laughing or crying
• Post-seizure fatigue or confusion (postictal state)

How long do complex focal seizures typically last? The duration can vary, but most complex focal seizures last between 30 seconds to 2 minutes. However, the postictal period may extend for several minutes or even hours.

Generalized Seizures: Widespread Brain Involvement

Generalized seizures affect both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously, leading to more dramatic and often more dangerous symptoms. These seizures are categorized into several types, each with distinct characteristics.

Absence Seizures (Petit Mal)

Absence seizures are brief episodes of altered consciousness, often mistaken for daydreaming or inattention. Key features include:

• Sudden onset of staring or blanking out
• Brief loss of awareness, typically lasting less than 30 seconds
• Possible eye blinking or mild facial twitching
• Quick recovery with no memory of the event

At what age do absence seizures typically begin? Absence seizures most commonly start between the ages of 4 and 12, making them a particular concern for school-aged children.

Atonic Seizures (Drop Attacks)

Atonic seizures are characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone, which can cause the child to fall or drop their head abruptly. These seizures are particularly dangerous due to the risk of injury from falls.

How can parents protect children prone to atonic seizures? Protective headgear, such as specially designed helmets, can help prevent head injuries. Additionally, ensuring a safe environment with padded surfaces can minimize the risk of harm during falls.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures: The Most Dramatic Form

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures, formerly known as grand mal seizures, are the most recognizable and severe form of epileptic seizures. These seizures involve several distinct phases:

1. Tonic phase: Muscle stiffening and loss of consciousness
2. Clonic phase: Rhythmic jerking movements
3. Postictal phase: Period of confusion and fatigue following the seizure

What should bystanders do if they witness a child having a tonic-clonic seizure? The priority is to ensure the child’s safety by:

• Moving objects away to prevent injury
• Placing something soft under the head
• Turning the child on their side to prevent choking
• Never restraining the child or putting anything in their mouth
• Timing the seizure and calling emergency services if it lasts longer than 5 minutes

Myoclonic Seizures: Brief Muscle Jerks

Myoclonic seizures are characterized by sudden, brief jerks of a muscle or group of muscles. These seizures often occur in clusters and can be mistaken for tics or clumsiness.

Are myoclonic seizures always indicative of epilepsy? While myoclonic seizures are a common feature of certain epilepsy syndromes, brief myoclonic jerks can also occur in healthy individuals, especially when falling asleep. Persistent or frequent myoclonic jerks warrant medical evaluation.

Diagnosing Epilepsy in Children

Diagnosing epilepsy in children requires a comprehensive approach, combining clinical evaluation, medical history, and diagnostic tests. The process typically involves:

• Detailed description of seizure events from parents or witnesses
• Neurological examination
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) to record brain electrical activity
• Brain imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans
• Blood tests to rule out other conditions

How accurate is an EEG in diagnosing epilepsy? While EEG is a valuable tool, it’s not always definitive. A normal EEG doesn’t rule out epilepsy, and abnormal EEG patterns can occur in individuals without epilepsy. Therefore, diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical presentation and test results.

Treatment Approaches for Childhood Epilepsy

Managing epilepsy in children often involves a multifaceted approach, tailored to the individual child’s needs and the specific type of seizures they experience. Treatment options may include:

• Antiepileptic medications (AEDs)
• Ketogenic diet
• Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
• Responsive neurostimulation (RNS)
• Surgical interventions for severe cases

What factors influence the choice of treatment for a child with epilepsy? The selection of treatment depends on several factors, including:

• Type and frequency of seizures
• Age of the child
• Overall health and any co-existing conditions
• Potential side effects of treatments
• Family preferences and lifestyle considerations

Medication Management

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the primary treatment for most children with epilepsy. These medications work by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain to prevent seizures. Common AEDs prescribed for children include:

• Valproic acid
• Carbamazepine
• Levetiracetam
• Oxcarbazepine
• Ethosuximide (specifically for absence seizures)

How long does it take to determine if an AED is effective? The response to AEDs can vary, but typically, effectiveness is evaluated over several weeks to months. Doctors may need to adjust dosages or try different medications to find the optimal treatment regimen.

Dietary Interventions

The ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, has shown effectiveness in controlling seizures in some children, particularly those with drug-resistant epilepsy. This dietary approach forces the body to use fat as its primary energy source, which can have an anticonvulsant effect.

Is the ketogenic diet suitable for all children with epilepsy? While the ketogenic diet can be highly effective for some children, it’s not appropriate for everyone. It requires strict adherence and medical supervision, and may not be suitable for children with certain metabolic disorders or those taking specific medications.

Living with Epilepsy: Challenges and Support

Children with epilepsy face unique challenges that extend beyond seizure management. These may include:

• Learning difficulties
• Social and emotional issues
• Restrictions on certain activities
• Side effects from medications
• Increased risk of injury during seizures

How can parents support a child with epilepsy? Supporting a child with epilepsy involves:

• Educating family members, teachers, and peers about epilepsy
• Ensuring a safe home and school environment
• Encouraging open communication about feelings and concerns
• Promoting independence while providing necessary supervision
• Collaborating closely with healthcare providers and educators
• Joining support groups or connecting with other families facing similar challenges

School Considerations

Children with epilepsy may require special accommodations in school to ensure their safety and academic success. These may include:

• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans
• Training for school staff on seizure first aid
• Modified schedules or extended time for assignments
• Adjustments for medication administration during school hours

What rights do children with epilepsy have in educational settings? In many countries, including the United States, children with epilepsy are protected by laws that ensure equal access to education. These laws mandate that schools provide reasonable accommodations to support the child’s learning and safety needs.

Research and Future Directions in Pediatric Epilepsy

The field of pediatric epilepsy is continuously evolving, with ongoing research aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for affected children. Some promising areas of research include:

• Gene therapy for specific epilepsy syndromes
• Advanced brain imaging techniques for more precise localization of seizure foci
• Development of new antiepileptic drugs with fewer side effects
• Improved neurostimulation devices
• Exploration of cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabis-derived treatments

What role does genetic testing play in epilepsy management? Genetic testing is becoming increasingly important in epilepsy care, helping to:

• Identify specific epilepsy syndromes
• Guide treatment choices
• Provide information about prognosis
• Assist in family planning decisions
• Contribute to research efforts in understanding epilepsy mechanisms

Emerging Therapies

Several innovative therapies are being explored for the treatment of epilepsy in children, including:

• Optogenetics: Using light to control genetically modified neurons
• Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems
• Stem cell therapy for repairing damaged brain tissue
• Precision medicine approaches tailored to individual genetic profiles

How close are these emerging therapies to clinical use? While many of these therapies show promise in laboratory and animal studies, most are still years away from widespread clinical application in children. However, ongoing clinical trials are paving the way for potential future treatments.

Seizures and Epilepsy in Children

What is epilepsy in children?

Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes a child to have seizures. It
is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. It affects
children and adults of all races and ethnic backgrounds.

The brain consists of nerve cells that communicate with each other
through electrical activity. A seizure occurs when one or more parts of
the brain has a burst of abnormal electrical signals that interrupt
normal brain signals. Anything that interrupts the normal connections
between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a
high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a
brain concussion. But when a child has 2 or more seizures with no known
cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy.

There are different types of seizures. The type of seizure depends on
which part and how much of the brain is affected and what happens
during the seizure. The 2 main categories of epileptic seizures are
focal (partial) seizure and generalized seizure.

Focal (partial) seizures

Focal seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function
occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. Before a focal
seizure, your child may have an aura, or signs that a seizure is about
to occur. This is more common with a complex focal seizure. The most
common aura involves feelings, such as deja vu, impending doom, fear,
or euphoria. Or your child may have visual changes, hearing
abnormalities, or changes in sense of smell. The 2 types of focal
seizures are:

• Simple focal seizure.
  The symptoms depend on which area of the brain is affected. If
  the abnormal electrical brain function is in the part of the
  brain involved with vision (occipital lobe), your child’s sight
  may be altered. More often, muscles are affected. The seizure
  activity is limited to an isolated muscle group. For example,
  it may only include the fingers, or larger muscles in the arms
  and legs. Your child may also have sweating, nausea, or become
  pale. Your child won’t lose consciousness in this type of
  seizure.

• Complex focal seizure.
  This type of seizure often occurs in the area of the brain that
  controls emotion and memory function (temporal lobe). Your
  child will likely lose consciousness. This may not mean he or
  she will pass out. Your child may just stop being aware of
  what’s going on around him or her. Your child may look awake,
  but have a variety of unusual behaviors. These may range from
  gagging, lip smacking, running, screaming, crying, or laughing.
  Your child may be tired or sleepy after the seizure. This is
  called the postictal period.

Generalized seizure

A generalized seizure occurs in both sides of the brain. Your child
will lose consciousness and be tired after the seizure (postictal
state). Types of generalized seizures include:

• Absence seizure

  .
  
  This is also called petit mal seizure. This seizure causes a
  brief changed state of consciousness and staring. Your child
  will likely maintain posture. His or her mouth or face may
  twitch or eyes may blink rapidly. The seizure usually lasts no
  longer than 30 seconds. When the seizure is over, your child
  may not recall what just occurred. He or she may go on with
  activities as though nothing happened. These seizures may occur
  several times a day. This type of seizure is sometimes mistaken
  for a learning or behavioral problem. Absence seizures almost
  always start between ages 4 to 12.

• Atonic seizure.
  This is also called a drop attack. With an atonic seizure, your
  child has a sudden loss of muscle tone and may fall from a
  standing position or suddenly drop his or her head. During the
  seizure, your child will be limp and unresponsive.

• Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTC).
  This is also called grand mal seizure. The classic form of this
  kind of seizure has 5 distinct phases. Your child’s body, arms,
  and legs will flex (contract), extend (straighten out), and
  tremor (shake). This is followed by contraction and relaxation
  of the muscles (clonic period) and the postictal period. During
  the postictal period, your child may be sleepy. He or she may
  have problems with vision or speech, and may have a bad
  headache, fatigue, or body aches. Not all of these phases occur
  in everyone with this type of seizure.

• Myoclonic seizure.
  This type of seizure causes quick movements or sudden jerking
  of a group of muscles. These seizures tend to occur in
  clusters. This means that they may occur several times a day,
  or for several days in a row.

What causes a seizure in a child?

A seizure can be caused by many things. These can include:

A seizure may be caused by a combination of these. In most cases, the
cause of a seizure can’t be found.

What are the symptoms of a seizure in a child?

Your child’s symptoms depend on the type of seizure. General symptoms
or warning signs of a seizure can include:

• Staring

• Jerking movements of the arms and legs

• Stiffening of the body

• Loss of consciousness

• Breathing problems or stopping breathing

• Loss of bowel or bladder control

• Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when
  associated with loss of consciousness

• Not responding to noise or words for brief periods

• Appearing confused or in a haze

• Nodding head rhythmically, when associated with loss of
  awareness or consciousness

• Periods of rapid eye blinking and staring

During the seizure, your child’s lips may become tinted blue and his or
her breathing may not be normal. After the seizure, your child may be
sleepy or confused.

The symptoms of a seizure may be like those of other health conditions.
Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a
diagnosis.

How are seizures diagnosed in a child?

The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health
history. You’ll be asked about other factors that may have caused your
child’s seizure, such as:

Your child may also have:

• A neurological exam

• Blood tests to check for problems in blood sugar and other
  factors

• Imaging tests of the brain, such as an

  MRI

  or

  CT scan

• Electroencephalogram

  , to test the electrical activity in your child’s brain

• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

  , to measure the pressure in the brain and spinal canal and
  test the cerebral spinal fluid for infection or other problems

How are seizures treated in a child?

The goal of treatment is to control, stop, or reduce how often seizures
occur. Treatment is most often done with medicine. Many types of
medicines used to treat seizures and epilepsy. Your child’s healthcare
provider will need to identify the type of seizure your child is
having. Medicines are selected based on the type of seizure, age of the
child, side effects, cost, and ease of use. Medicines used at home are
usually taken by mouth as capsules, tablets, sprinkles, or syrup. Some
medicines can be given into the rectum or in the nose. If your child is
in the hospital with seizures, medicine may be given by injection or
intravenously by vein (IV).

It is important to give your child medicine on time and as prescribed.
The dose may need to be adjusted for the best seizure control. All
medicines can have side effects. Talk with your child’s healthcare
provider about possible side effects. If your child has side effects,
talk to the healthcare provider. Do not stop giving medicine to your
child. This can cause more or worse seizures.

While your child is taking medicine, he or she may need tests to see
how well the medicine is working. You may have:

• Blood tests.
  Your child may need blood tests often to check the level of
  medicine in his or her body. Based on this level, the
  healthcare provider may change the dose of medicine. Your child
  may also have blood tests to check the effects of the medicine
  on his or her other organs.

• Urine tests.
  Your child’s urine may be tested to see how his or her body is
  reacting to the medicine.

• Electroencephalogram (EEG).
  An EEG is a procedure that records the brain’s electrical
  activity. This is done by attaching electrodes to the scalp.
  This test is done to see how medicine is helping the electrical
  problems in your child’s brain.

Your child may not need medicine for life. Some children are taken off
medicine if they have had no seizures for 1 to 2 years. This will be
determined by your child’s healthcare provider.

Other treatments

If medicine doesn’t work well enough for your child to control seizures
or your child has problems with side effects, the healthcare provider
may advise other types of treatment. Your child may be treated with any
of the below:

Ketogenic diet

A ketogenic diet is a type of diet is very high in fat, and very low in
carbohydrates. Enough protein is included to help promote growth. The
diet causes the body to make ketones. These are chemicals made from the
breakdown of body fat. The brain and heart work normally with ketones
as an energy source. This special diet must be strictly followed. Too
many carbohydrates can stop ketosis. Researchers aren’t sure why the
diet works. But some children become seizure-free when put on the diet.
The diet doesn’t work for every child.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

This treatment sends small pulses of energy to the brain from one of
the vagus nerves. This is a pair of large nerves in the neck. If your
child is age 12 or older and has partial seizures that are not
controlled well with medicine, VNS may be an option. VNS is done by
surgically placing a small battery into the chest wall. Small wires are
then attached to the battery and placed under the skin and around one
of the vagus nerves. The battery is then programmed to send energy
impulses every few minutes to the brain. When your child feels a
seizure coming on, he or she may activate the impulses by holding a
small magnet over the battery. In many cases, this will help to stop
the seizure. VNS can have side effects such as hoarse voice, pain in
the throat, or change in voice.

Surgery

Surgery may be done to remove the part of the brain where the seizures
are occurring. Or the surgery helps to stop the spread of the bad
electrical currents through the brain. Surgery may be an option if your
child’s seizures are hard to control and always start in one part of
the brain that doesn’t affect speech, memory, or vision. Surgery for
epilepsy seizures is very complex. It is done by a specialized surgical
team. Your child may be awake during the surgery. The brain itself does
not feel pain. If your child is awake and able to follow commands, the
surgeons are better able to check areas of his or her brain during the
procedure. Surgery is not an option for everyone with seizures.

How can I help my child live with epilepsy?

You can help your child with epilepsy manage his or her health. Make
sure to:

• If age-appropriate, make sure your child understands the type
  of seizure he or she has, and the type of medicine that is
  needed.

• Know the dose, time, and side effects of all medicines. Give
  your child medicine exactly as directed.

• Talk with your child’s healthcare provider before giving your
  child other medicines. Medicines for seizures can interact with
  many other medicines. This can cause the medicines to not work
  well, or cause side effects.

• Help your child avoid anything that may trigger a seizure. Make
  sure your child gets enough sleep, as lack of sleep can trigger
  a seizure.

• Make sure your child visits his or her healthcare provider
  regularly. Have your child tested as often as needed.

Keep in mind that your child may not need medicine for life. Talk with
the healthcare provider if your child has had no seizures for 1 to 2
years.

If your child’s seizures are controlled well, you may not need many
restrictions on activities. Make sure your child wears a helmet for
sports such as skating, hockey, and bike riding. Make sure your child
has adult supervision while swimming.

When should I call my child’s healthcare provider?

Call the healthcare provider if:

Key points about epilepsy and seizures in children

• A seizure occurs when one or more parts of the brain has a
  burst of abnormal electrical signals that interrupt normal
  signals

• There are many types of seizures. Each can cause different
  kinds of symptoms. These range from slight body movements to
  loss of consciousness and convulsions.

• Epilepsy is when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known
  cause.

• Epilepsy is treated with medicine. In some cases, it may be
  treated with VNS or surgery.

• It’s important to avoid anything that triggers seizures. This
  includes lack of sleep.

Seizures (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is a Seizure?

A seizure (SEE-zhur) is unusual electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movement, or feelings. Normally, electrical activity in the brain involves neurons (nerve cells) in different areas sending signals at different times. During a seizure, many neurons fire all at once.

Not all kids who have had one seizure will have another. Epilepsy is when someone has repeated seizures. Some kids will outgrow seizures.

What Happens in a Seizure?

Normally, electrical activity in the brain involves neurons (nerve cells) in different areas sending signals at different times. During a seizure, many neurons fire all at once.

What Are the Different Types of Seizures?

Some seizures affect both sides of the brain, while others involve only one side.

Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain. Generalized seizure types include:

• generalized tonic-clonic seizures
• absence seizures
• atonic seizures
• tonic seizures
• myoclonic seizures

Focal seizures affect a single area in one side of the brain. Focal seizures types include:

• focal aware seizures
• focal impaired awareness seizures
• focal to bilateral generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Some people have both focal and generalized seizures.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of a Seizure?

Signs and symptoms of seizures depend on what kind of seizure someone has. They may stare into space or have jerking movements in part of their body or the whole body. Some people may show no signs at all.

What Happens After a Seizure?

After a seizure, the person may feel confused, tired, have a headache, or have other symptoms. This is called the postictal (post-IK-tul) phase. It usually lasts just a few minutes, but can be longer.

What Causes Seizures?

The most common type of seizure in children is from a fever (called a febrile seizure). Other causes include infections, low blood sodium, medicines, drug use (amphetamines or cocaine), brain injury or a tumor, and genetic changes. Sometimes, a seizure’s cause is never found.

How Are Seizures Diagnosed?

If a child has a seizure, doctors will look for a cause. Kids who’ve had a seizure might need to see a pediatric neurologist (a doctor who specializes in brain, spine, and nervous system problems). Tests done can include:

• blood tests and urine (pee) tests to look for infections or illnesses
• EEG to measure brain wave activity
• VEEG, or video electroencephalography (EEG with video recording)
• CAT scan, MRI, and PET/MRI scans to get very detailed images of the brain

How Are Seizures Treated?

How doctors treat seizures depends on their cause (if known) and the type of seizure. Some won’t need any treatment.

Medicines can help with many types of seizures. If medicine doesn’t work, other treatments are available.

How Can Parents Help?

If your child had a seizure, talk to the doctor about:

• any medicines your child should take
• any “triggers” (such as fever, flashing lights, hunger, lack of sleep, or medicines) that can make a seizure more likely
• any precautions your child should take while swimming or bathing
• whether your child should wear a medical ID bracelet
• whether your child needs to see a neurologist
• if it’s OK for your teen to drive
• how to keep your child safe during a seizure. Share this information with caregivers, coaches, and staff at your child’s school.

If your child has another seizure, keep a record of:

• when it happened
• how long it lasted
• what happened right before the seizure
• what happened during and after the seizure

This information will help the doctor find what’s causing the seizures and decide on the best treatment.

What Else Should I Know?

If your child has seizures, reassure them that they’re not alone. Your doctor and the care team can answer questions and offer support. They also might be able to recommend a local support group. Online organizations can help too, such as:

• Epilepsy Foundation
• CDC – Managing Epilepsy

Seizures in children – diagnosis and treatment at the medical center “Andreev Hospitals”

Seizures – a sudden disorder of the brain, manifested by various disorders of the motor, psycho-emotional, sensitive and vegetative spheres. Seizures can occur with loss of consciousness, as well as against the background of preserved or partially preserved consciousness.

Seizures in children can occur at any age, but it is generally accepted that up to two-thirds of seizures occur in the first 3 years of life. Being a typical manifestation of epilepsy, seizures do not always indicate the presence of this disease in a child. Convulsive seizures are recorded in 5-10% of children, the diagnosis of epilepsy is established in 0.5-1% of the population.

Causes of seizures in children can be:

• Perinatal disorders MV) or the causative agent of toxoplasmosis).
• Infections – meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess.
• Brain injuries – brain contusion, rarely concussion.
• Metabolic disorders – decreased levels of calcium, sodium, magnesium, blood sugar (respectively, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypoglycemia), increased sodium levels in the blood (hypernatremia), renal failure.
• Fever (febrile convulsions)
• Neurological diseases – epilepsy, congenital malformations of the central nervous system, hereditary metabolic diseases (amino acid metabolism disorders, mitochondrial diseases, glycogenosis, etc.), phakomatoses (neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, etc. ), brain tumors.
• Drug withdrawal syndrome – convulsions in newborns born to mothers who use drugs.

Main clinical types of seizures in children:

• tonic (synchronous / asynchronous tension of the muscles of the trunk, limbs)
• clonic (synchronous/asynchronous rhythmic contractions of all muscles)
• tonic-clonic (a combination of tonic and clonic seizures with a predominance of one or another component)
• myoclonic (repeated, often symmetrical contractions of individual muscles or muscle groups)
• atonic (sudden decrease in muscle tone)
• infantile spasms (short-term successive symmetrical flexion/extensor contractions of the muscles of the neck, limbs and trunk)
• absences (sudden short-term cessation of motor and speech activity with “fading” of gaze).

Diagnostics

The volume of the necessary examination of children with seizures is determined by the doctor individually, it depends on the nature, conditions of occurrence, frequency of seizures; the general condition of the patient, the characteristics of his somatic and neurological status and may include EEG, if necessary, EEG video monitoring, CT or MRI of the brain, lumbar puncture, biochemical studies of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, etc. The purpose of the ongoing research is to identify a possible cause of seizures and establishing the diagnosis, allowing to form the correct approaches to the treatment of the child.

Convulsive episodes in newborns and young children in most cases are isolated and do not require further treatment. Recurrent seizures, most often associated with various types of epilepsy, require carefully selected and long-term anticonvulsant therapy under the supervision of a pediatric neurologist (epileptologist).

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Convulsive syndrome in children – causes of convulsions, symptoms, methods of prevention

Convulsive syndrome is a non-specific reaction of the child’s body to external and internal stimuli, characterized by sudden attacks of involuntary muscle contractions. The smaller the child, the more convulsive readiness he has. This is due to the immaturity of some structures of the brain and nerve fibers, the high degree of permeability of the blood-brain barrier and the tendency to generalize any processes, as well as some other reasons.

Reasons

All causes of seizures can be divided into epileptic (epilepsy) and non-epileptic.

Non-epileptic:

• Spasmophilia.
• Overheating.
• Encephalitis, meningitis, trauma and brain infections.
• Toxoplasmosis.
• Metabolic disorders, primarily potassium and calcium metabolism, for one reason or another.
• For newborns – hemolytic disease, congenital lesions of the nervous system, asphyxia.
• Various hormonal disorders.
• In acute infectious diseases, especially with a rise in temperature to febrile figures.
• Intoxication and poisoning.
• Hereditary metabolic diseases.
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular and hematopoietic systems.

Symptoms

• Tonic convulsions (spasm-muscle tension).
• Pose with the upper limbs bent at all joints, the lower limbs extended and the head thrown back.
• Respiration and pulse are slow. Contact with the outside world is lost or significantly weakened.
• Clonic convulsions (involuntary muscle twitching).

The diagnosis of convulsive syndrome in children is made on the basis of the clinic, which in most cases does not cause difficulties. After making this diagnosis, it is necessary to clarify the nature of the convulsive syndrome, for which the anamnesis of the life and illness of the child, x-ray examination of the skull, echoencephalography, electroencephalography, angiography and other methods can be used. Laboratory tests can be quite revealing.

Prevention

Febrile convulsions (at high body temperature, above 38 C) usually stop with age.