Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which can affect individuals of any age including children. A person coping with epilepsy has a tendency to get seizures starting in brain. Find more about epilepsy and how it can affect a child’s life.A human body’s feelings, actions, senses and thoughts are controlled by electric signals sent by nerve cell in the brain. These nerve cells are present in millions of number in the brain. When the signals that are sent by these nerve cells are disrupted, the individual may get affected with epileptic seizure which is also referred as fit or attack.
All seizures cannot be classified as epilepsy. If a child is getting fits it can also be a
febrile convulsion due to sudden rise in the temperature of the body during
illness or fainting due to drop in
blood pressure.
There are two forms of this disease: petit mal and grand mal.
In the case of petit mal, your child will not do anything as dramatic as falling to the floor in a dead faint. She will merely become pale and have a vacant expression on her face. She will appear to blank out for a few minutes. She will snap out of it on her own, carrying on as if nothing had happened.
In the case of grand mal, your child will display the same symptoms as those displayed in febrile convulsions.
What do I do if my child has epilepsy?
The doctor will recommend that your child have an electroencephalogram (EEG) to confirm the epilepsy diagnosis. When your child has a fit, deal with it in the same way as you would febrile convulsions.
Psychologically, it would be better for the child if you did not treat her as an "epileptic." Make her feel that her fits are unconnected happenings, not a disease.
To be on the safe side, leave the bathroom door open so you can keep an eye on her for possible attacks while she is bathing. Also, be extra alert when your child goes swimming or sailing.
What are the causes of epilepsy in children?
Epilepsy in children may be caused due to injury to the brain caused due to problems like severe head injury, complications during child birth or any other infections that affect brain for example, infections like meningitis. These are the structural causes of epilepsy and epilepsy with the known structural cause is referred to as symptomatic epilepsy. It is important to note that all individuals having severe brain injury may not develop
epilepsy. The cause of epilepsy in children sometimes can be genetic also. The level of genetic tendency of child getting affected with epilepsy may range from low to high.
How is epilepsy in children treated?
The cases of epilepsy in children are handled by paediatric neurologist, a doctor who is a child specialist in treating disorders related brain and nervous system. Usually, paediatric neurologist may prescribe anti-epileptic drugs that are suitable for the child. These anti-epileptic drugs can help to stop seizures in children. However, it is important to note that these drugs do not cure epilepsy or stop the seizures when they are happening.
Although, these kinds of drugs suit most of the children, they may show side effects in some children. But there is no need to worry as such side effects may fade away as the child’s body gets used to them or when the changes are made in the dosage by the doctor. But it is necessary to immediately inform the doctor if any side effects are observed. However, changing or stopping these drugs without consulting a paediatric neurologist can be risky as it may trigger the seizures again or it may even make it worse. In case if anti-epileptic drugs do not work, doctor may suggest other ways to treat this disorder.
