ESG's
Parent Support Guide
Nearly one-third of people newly diagnosed each year with epilepsy are children.
Children are most prone to developing epilepsy in early childhood or at
adolescence. However, epilepsy can develop at any age in children or adults.
Epilepsy may be triggered by structural abnormality in the brain, brain injury,
an infection, or other factors. In the majority of cases, however, the cause
cannot be determined.
What is Epilepsy?
The brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons; these cells communicate by sending electrical messages to one another. During a seizure, groups of these cells send out bursts of energy in an unco-ordinated manner. These discharges can cause seizures which may affect one's behaviour, perception, movement, consciousness, breathing, and/or other brain and body functions. A single attack is referred to as a seizure. A person who experiences repeated seizures is said to have a seizure disorder or epilepsy.
Most of the many different types of seizures are classified within 2 main categories: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures occur when the excessive electrical activity encompasses the entire brain. The most common forms are absence and tonic-clonic seizures. Partial seizures occur when the excessive electrical activity is limited to one area of the brain. The most common forms are simple partial and complex partial seizures.
Some people experience an aura — a partial seizure preceeding a generalized seizure — which is often seen as a warning sign. An aura may be emotional (fear, anxiety), physical (dizziness, nausea), or sensory (tingling or crawling sensation on the skin, spots or colours before the eyes, strange taste or smell).
It is possible for anyone to have a seizure if the conditions are right. Everyone has a seizure threshold. The lower the seizure threshold, the more likely the brain cells are to fire at a lower level of stimulus, causing a seizure. Children tend to have a relatively low seizure threshold. This may help to explain why children often outgrow their epilepsy as their brain matures.
An individual's seizure threshold may be lowered by genetics, brain damage, sleep deprivation, missed medication, drug toxicity (too much medication), poor nutrition, caffeine, drug abuse, consumption of alcohol, full bladder, constipation, fever, colds, infections, menstrual cycle, heat, humidity, and emotional stress. In combination, some of these factors may lower one's seizure threshold even further.
Causes of Epilepsy
Approximately 75% of all cases of epilepsy have no known cause. This is referred to as idiopathic epilepsy.
The other 25% of cases may be due to trauma to the foetus during pregnancy or during birth, poisoning (lead poisoning, environmental contaminants), viral or bacterial infection (meningitis), alcohol or other drug abuse, head trauma (car accident or blow to the head), alteration in blood sugar levels, brain tumour, or stroke.
In most cases, epilepsy is not inherited. However, a person may inherit a predisposition or tendency to have epilepsy if they are subjected to specific conditions.
People who do not know the cause of their epilepsy often feel more anxiety about having the disorder. However, when the cause of epilepsy is unknown, the prognosis for epilepsy is not necessarily any worse.
How to Identify a Seizure
Seizures may have many different appearances, which can be difficult to recognize. Some of the following may be indications that a seizure is occurring. Look for and make note of particular patterns of behaviour if they occur too often to be attributed to chance.
- Daydreaming or short attention blackouts
- Sudden falls for no reason
- Lack of response for short periods of time
- Unusual sleepiness and/or irritability when awakened from sleep
- Rhythmic movements of the head (head nodding) or head dropping
- Rapid blinking or upward eye rolling
- Frequent unwarranted complaints from the child that things look, sound, taste, smell or feel “funny” or different than they actually are
- Sudden bowing or bending movements by babies who are sitting down
- Sudden stomach pain followed by sleepiness or confusion
- Repeated movements or jerking movements that look out of place or unnatural
- Memory gaps
- A blank stare followed by repetitive, meaningless movements
- Dazed behaviour with the inability to communicate or talk for a brief period of time
- Bed wetting or waking with a bitten tongue for no apparent reason
- Lip smacking, chewing or swallowing
Prevalence of Epilepsy
Approximately 1 to 2% of all people have epilepsy. 70 to 80% of those with epilepsy develop it before the age of 18 years. Of these, 44% develop epilepsy before age 5.
There is a 10% lifetime risk of having at least 1 seizure.
Depending on the type of seizure, 20 to 95% of individuals will go on to have more than 1 seizure, at which time they may be diagnosed as having epilepsy.
Seizures are seen very frequently in the first 10 years of life. This may be due in part to the low seizure threshold of some children. As the child's brain matures, the seizure threshold rises, making the child more resistant to seizures. As a result, most people who develop seizures during childhood or adolescence tend to experience a reduction in the intensity and frequency of seizures as they approach adulthood.
Diagnosing a Seizure Disorder
Following a seizure, your child should visit a physician and/or paediatric neurologist for assessment. They will need a complete medical history, including:
- A description of the seizure(s) from those who observed it
- The child's description of what s/he experienced before, during and after the seizure
- A list of the events leading up to the seizure
- Information about any other unusual events (focal twitching of a finger, toe, arm or leg; short periods of unresponsiveness; myoclonic jerks)
- General physical and neurological exams (blood tests, EEG, MRI scan, CT scan).
There are several conditions which may be mistaken for epilepsy because they may cause effects very similar to those seen in epilepsy. These conditions may include:
- Reflex anoxic seizures (pallid syncopal attacks)
- Fainting (syncope or vasovagal attacks)
- Breath-holding attacks
- Myoclonic jerks of sleep
- Migraines
- Hyperventialation
- Non-epileptic attacks (NEAs, psuedoseizures, psychological seizures)
- Febrile convulsions.
Types of Seizures
See
ESG's Index of Seizure Types
Treatment of Epilepsy
Epilepsy may treated with the use of drugs, surgery, behaviour modification and/or special diets.
Drug therapy is most common and is usually tried first. Up to 60% of people with epilepsy can control their seizures using medications. Different medications are prescribed for different seizure types. In order to be effective, a constant level of the prescribed medication must be in the blood. The dosage depends on the frequency of seizures, type of seizures, individual tolerance and other factors. Drugs do not cure epilepsy, they only control it.
The great majority of children with epilepsy maintain seizure control through daily medication. It may take a long time before the right medication and dosage are determined. Frequent adjustments in dosage are also needed as the child grows. Be sure to advise teachers and other caregivers of all changes in dosage or drug type when they are adjusted by the physician. You should also discuss the possible side effects of each drug the child is taking.
Common drug side effects may include:
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Hyperactivity
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Double vision
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Nausea
- Increased body hair
- Tremors
- Anemia
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach aches
- Gum swelling
Possible Seizure Triggers
- Not taking one's antiepileptic medication
- Stress, excitement and emotional upset
- These may lower your child's resistance to seizures by affecting sleeping or eating habits.
- Boredom - Research shows that individuals who are happily occupied are less likely to have a seizure.
- Lack of sleep can change the brain's patterns of electrical activity and can trigger seizures.
- Fevers may make some children more likely to have a seizure.
- Alcohol can affect the rate at which the liver breaks down antiepileptic medication. This may decrease the blood levels of antiepileptic medications, affecting an individual's seizure control.
- Poor diet.
*Many seizures take place when blood sugar is low.
*Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body's metabolism.
*Some parents have reported that allergic reactions to certain foods, such as white flour, also seem to trigger seizures in their children.
*Certain nutrient shortages, such as a lack of calcium, have also been found to trigger seizures.
- Menstrual cycle - Many females find that their seizures increase around the time of their period. This is referred to as catamenial epilepsy and is due to changes in hormone levels, increased fluid retention and changes in antiepileptic drug levels in the blood.
- Very warm weather, hot baths or showers - Theses are possible seizure triggers, especially when there is a sudden change in temperature.
- Other medications that are taken in addition to antiepileptic medication.
- Television, videos, and flashing lights - The ‘strobe effect’ from fast scene changes on a bright screen, rapidly changing colours or fast-moving shadows or patterns can all trigger seizures.
Safety Issues
Bathing
- Water is especially dangerous for children with epilepsy, so children should bathe in low levels of water. Even when as little water as possible is used, drowning is a possibility if the child falls unconscious without making a sound.
- The bathroom door should not be locked when the child bathes.
- Children with frequent seizures should take showers while sitting on a stool. Taking showers is safer than taking baths, but be aware that injuries may still occur.
- Even older children struggling to gain independence should ensure that someone else is home when they bathe or shower. They should not be permitted to bathe when there is no one else in the house.
- Children should be taught about the risks that they face, should they experience a seizure in the bath or shower when no one is else is home.
Swimming
- Children with epilepsy should swim under the watchful eye of lifeguards and/or responsible adults who are trained in lifesaving and ready to act in case of an emergenc
- Inform supervisors that the child has epilepsy so that they are ready to deal with a seizure, should one occur.
- While swimming, children with epilepsy should have a “buddy” who swims with them.
- Diving should be avoided because of the pressure it places in the head, but swimming is possible for many children with epilepsy.
Head Protection
When a child has tonic (drop) seizures, the loss of posture may be so rapid that the child crashes violently to the ground. Because this type of seizures is difficult to control, the individual may be exposed to physical injury. Hence, helmets are often a necessity.
Children with epilepsy should also wear a helmet whenever they will be participating in sports where there is a risk of head injury.
Epilepsy
Frequently Asked Questions
See
ESG's Epilepsy Frequent Asked Questions
 Inactive groups have been removed
More Forums
Parents Helping Parents provided by The Epilepsy Foundation eCommunities
This group is for parents and guardians of children with epilepsy.
The Teen Chat Group provided by The Epilepsy Foundation eCommunities
Here teens can meet in their own place.
Friends, Family, and Loved Ones provided by The Epilepsy Foundation eCommunities
Support for those who give support.
NSE Epilepsy Forum Provided by The National Society for Epilepsy (UK)
A forum for epilepsy information and support
Parent Group Community Forum Provided By my.epilepsy.com
A place for parents to learn and get support from other parents of children with epilepsy.
Join Our Support Group
 
 
Last Updated: July 23, 2009
|
|
Inactive groups have been removed 
