What is epilepsy in children?

1 General information about the disease

Epilepsy is a disease of the central nervous system, for which a characteristic feature is the presence of seizures. Their appearance is the result of an incorrect communication between nerve cells in the brain. A sharp, uncontrolled discharge that can be compared to an electric storm breaks the connection between neurons, which leads to a seizure of epilepsy. Epileptic seizure is accompanied by the performance of involuntary movements. Manifestation of symptoms of the disease progresses over time.

The appearance of several seizures does not mean that a person has epilepsy. Epilepsy in a child is associated with a tendency to the occurrence of repeated seizures for a sufficiently long period of time, which can last up to several months.

It should be noted that epilepsy is not the only cause of uncontrolled seizures of the body in childhood. The occurrence of epileptic seizures in a child does not mean mental retardation and has no connection with the intellect and the ability to teach the child. Epilepsy is not a contagious disease, it is not caused by any pathogen. The disease is not inherited, but a low threshold of excitability of nerve cells( their propensity to respond to impulses sent by other nerve cells) is inherited.

2 Types of epileptic seizures

The following types of epileptic seizures are distinguished:

1. Vest syndrome. In children, seizures can manifest as sudden seizures, in which the baby bends in half, which resembles the performance of inclinations. Symptoms of Vest syndrome are very easy to confuse with colic colic.
2. Unconscious seizures. The easiest way to observe this kind of epilepsy in children at school age is when the student loses contact with the environment for a while during the lesson, stops listening, interrupts the conversation. The attack resembles a violation of concentration of attention. The child during an attack outside consciousness, does not remember what happened, does not respond to voice and touch.
3. Roland's epilepsy is the most common type of epilepsy among children. The symptoms of Roland's epilepsy appear between the third and twelfth year of life. Children wake up at night, full of fear and anxiety, can not talk. They are afraid of what is happening to them. They often feel tingling or twitching of the muscles on one side of the face. Salivation may occur.
4. Large convulsive seizure. This condition can be dangerous. During a fit, a child falls to the ground, loses consciousness, does not react to the environment, stops breathing for a while, emits a cry or moans and bends. His body strains, saliva appears on his lips. The culmination of the attack is the cramps of the whole body. Sometimes, before a large epileptic fit, there may be a so-called aura, that is, a harbinger of convulsions. The child before the seizure has symptoms-precursors: irritability, fear, dizziness, nausea or strange taste in the mouth. Sometimes there are no signals about the impending attack. After an epileptic fit, children experience fatigue and a drowsy condition.

3 What are the causes of the pathology?

Epilepsy occurs due to abnormal brain function. Violations of the functions of the nervous system in the transfer of impulses between neurons or in the concentration of neurotransmitters lead to a kind of "short circuit", which causes an epileptic fit.

Pediatric epilepsy can occur at any age, even in infants. As a rule, the disease manifests itself before the age of 20 years of life. More than half of the types of epilepsy begin in childhood.

Determining the causes of epilepsy in children is extremely difficult, and in most cases impossible. In the case of children, the reasons for more than half the cases can not be unequivocally determined. Some researchers believe that a significant part of the cases has a genetic component. It can touch the children whose parents and other relatives suffered from epilepsy. At the moment, you can only point out the factors that increase the risk of the disease. The causes relate mainly to brain diseases. This:

• brain injury;
• brain tumors;
• stroke( rarely in children);
• hypoxia of the brain( eg, occurring during labor);
• transferred surgical procedures on an open skull;
• malformations of the brain;
• metabolic disorders;
• Inflammation of the meninges or brain;
• is a developmental disorder within the blood vessels.

4 Possible manifestations of

Seizures in children with epilepsy can be very different in severity and frequency. They can last from a few seconds to several minutes. There are many different types of seizures, their occurrence depends on where in the brain the bioelectric signals failed.

The two main categories of seizures are generalized, occurring throughout the brain and partial seizures, in which the disorder occurs only in the part of the brain. Some people with epilepsy experience both types of seizures. In addition, the partial attack can develop into a generalized seizure of epilepsy.

Child epilepsy attacks are always a hard test for parents, they are also quite traumatic for outsiders( classmates, teachers).During a fit, a child may lose consciousness or perform harsh, inconsistent movements. It happens that children have difficulty breathing.

In the case of mild forms of epilepsy, seizures cause confusion. Children often lose their logical and verbal contact with their parents. Some epileptic seizures in children are so short and weak that they are difficult to distinguish, they are visible only to parents. A child after a very short attack, lasting a few seconds, may even return to the activities that he performed before the onset of the seizure. Prolonged seizures are usually associated with the fact that after their retreat the patient feels significantly weakened, is drowsy. Some children may be overly anxious. During an attack, it is important to maintain peace and ensure the child's safety.

5 The Importance of Correct Diagnosis

Every parent who watches episodes of epilepsy in his child, short-term loss of contact with him, changes in his behavior, which will additionally accompany the tremor, should definitely consult a doctor. A specialist who can confirm or rule out the presence of the disease is a neurologist. The doctor will examine a small patient, hold a survey of parents and the child, if his age and condition allows it.

If a doctor suspects of epilepsy, he will prescribe diagnostic tests. Among them, an electroencephalographic study( EEG) is often used, which consists in measuring the electrical activity of the brain with the help of sensors placed on the scalp. The study is painless and takes about an hour. Another diagnostic study is magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to accurately study the structure of the brain.

6 Treatment measures

Based on the results of the research, the doctor will determine the best form of treatment.

Usually treatment begins with the use of antiepileptic drugs. Treatment of epilepsy in children can be burdened by the occurrence of unwanted symptoms( fatigue, loss of attention, changes in mood and behavior).Currently, there are many types of such medicines. Most children who take anticonvulsants do not cause serious side effects. In case of side effects, the neuropathologist can introduce changes in the treatment regimen.

If a child has epileptic seizures with subsequent drugs, it may turn out that no drug will be completely effective for him. In this case, it may be necessary to introduce a combined treatment, which will include not only drug treatment, but also a special diet. Ketogenic diet is a diet high in fat and low in sugar and protein. In neglected cases, doctors decide on the implantation of a stimulant of the vagus nerve. This is an electrical device that is placed in the area of ​​the baby's chest.

To prevent seizures, it is necessary to monitor whether your child takes medication prescribed by a doctor. It is important that you avoid factors that are considered dangerous and can cause an epileptic seizure( eg, high fever).It should be in accordance with the recommendations to be on visits to the doctor( several times a year).

Good nutrition, proper rest are factors that are the basis for maintaining control of epilepsy in a child. Precautions are the appropriate control over the child. A sick child should not remain unattended. Do not leave him alone in the tub, during sports, during the use of electrical appliances, etc. Thanks to simple precautions, your child will be able to play, exercise and lead a normal lifestyle. It is important that people who are surrounded by the child( family members and teachers) know that he suffers from epilepsy, understood the precautions and limitations associated with his upbringing, what they should do if a seizure occurs.

The child should be encouraged, motivated, open and honest to talk to him about the disease and possible risks. Many children suffering from epilepsy have other neurological problems. Especially often these are problems with learning and behavior, and they can represent a much more serious problem for your child than epilepsy itself.

In some cases, anticonvulsant drugs can enhance this type of problem. They may require consultation with a doctor and a teacher. In some cases, you should seek the advice and help of a psychologist. For a child with frequent epileptic seizures, such help can be crucial in the treatment.

7 What do parents need to know?

During an epileptic seizure in children, it is important to remain calm and ensure its safety. Often I have to call for help( in case of seizures, lasting several minutes).To ensure your baby's safety, you must:

• put it in a safe place( away from traffic, sharp edges);
• put under your head clothes or pillow;
• turn it to the right side so that the saliva can flow freely from the mouth;
• do not put any objects in your mouth;
• do not limit its thrust;
• do not hesitate of his movements.

In case of frequent seizures, every case should be recorded - duration, date, time of day and characteristic symptoms. These data are invaluable for the doctor.

Most epileptic seizures do not pose a threat to the lives of children, but if seizures last longer than a few minutes or a child has difficulty breathing after their withdrawal, qualified medical attention should be called.