How does a child develop epilepsy?

Some children develop epilepsy as a result of their brain being injured in some way. This could be due to a severe head injury, difficulties at birth, or an infection which affects the brain such as meningitis. Epilepsy with a known structural cause like this is sometimes called symptomatic epilepsy.

At what age is epilepsy diagnosed in children?

Epilepsy can begin at any time of life, but it’s most commonly diagnosed in children, and people over the age of 65. Some children with epilepsy will outgrow their seizures as they mature, while others may have seizures that continue into adulthood.

Which epilepsy is common in children?

Juvenile myoclonic is the most common generalized epilepsy syndrome. It often continues into adulthood, but it may become less severe, and medication can control the seizures in up to 90% of cases. This syndrome, known as LKS, is a rare childhood disorder that typically begins between 3 and 7 years of age.

What are the signs of epilepsy in toddlers?

What are the symptoms of a seizure in a child?

• 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.

Can childhood epilepsy go away?

Childhood absence epilepsy often goes away two to five years after the seizures begin or when the child is a teenager. Some researchers believe that early treatment and good response to anti-epileptic drugs improve the chances that the seizures will go away permanently.

Can a 2 year old have absence seizures?

These types of seizures are often set off by a period of hyperventilation. Absence seizures usually occur in children between ages 4 to 14. A child may have 10, 50, or even 100 absence seizures in a given day and they may go unnoticed. Most children who have typical absence seizures are otherwise normal.

What should you know if your child has epilepsy?

Here are some things to keep in mind if your child has had a seizure: Most children who have a seizure don’t have another one. Most children who have epilepsy — which by definition means that they’ve had more than one seizure — will outgrow the condition. Most children with epilepsy are perfectly healthy and normal in other ways.

Which is the best Test to check for epilepsy?

It can also be very useful to bring along someone who’s seen you have a seizure, or to bring a video recording of you having a seizure if possible. The specialist may suggest having a test to check your brain activity called an electroencephalogram (EEG), or a brain scan to look for any problem in your brain.

Can a child have more than one epilepsy seizure?

Here are some things to keep in mind if your child has had a seizure: Most children who have a seizure don’t have another one. Most children who have epilepsy — which by definition means that they’ve had more than one seizure — will outgrow the condition.

Is it hard to find out if you have epilepsy?

Finding out about your seizures. It can be hard to diagnose epilepsy quickly because other conditions, such as fainting, migraines and panic attacks, can cause similar symptoms. It often can’t be confirmed until you’ve had more than one seizure. It’ll help your specialist if you can describe what you remember about your seizure in as much detail…

How can you tell if your child has epilepsy?

Children might do some odd things when they are having a seizure, such as picking at their clothing, or walking around the room for no particular reason. When they do things like this, it is likely that they are having a focal seizure, which can be a sign of epilepsy if a person has many of them.

How are seizures treated in children with 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.

Is it possible for a baby to have epilepsy?

Babies can also have epilepsy, and it can be rather alarming to parents because they might not know about it until their child’s limbs suddenly get stiff. Babies who experience this will also likely push their head forward during a seizure. The cause of this is something called Infantile Spasms.

How are EEGs used to diagnose children with epilepsy?

An EEG records the electrical activity of your child’s brain. It is used to find changes in the normal patterns of his or her brain activity. CT or MRI pictures may be used to check for abnormal areas. Your child may be given contrast liquid to help his or her brain show up better in the pictures.