Causes of Epilepsy in Children? Treatments for Epilepsy in Children?

December 7, 2020 Lifestyle Diseases 685 Views

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Epilepsy in Children

Nowadays, not only adults but children also suffer from the problem of epilepsy. Epilepsy affects more than five crore people in the whole world. As you know, a person has seizures in epilepsy. If we talk about children, in general, one in 20 children may have epileptic seizures. Parents get worried when their child has epileptic seizures. But its treatment is available. In children, during the early onset of epilepsy, some symptoms may appear, such as muscle spasms. In this article, we will tell you about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of epilepsy in children. 

  • Types of Epilepsy in Children 
  • What are the Causes of Epilepsy in Children?
  • What are the Symptoms of Epilepsy in Children? 
  • What are the Treatments for Epilepsy in Children?
  • How to Prevent Epilepsy in Children?

Types of Epilepsy in Children

Epileptic seizures generally have physical effects on humans. It occurs when there is an abnormal electrical activity in the neurons of the brain. Based on disturbances in the brain, doctors divide epilepsy into two types – generalized seizures and focal seizures. 

  • Generalized seizures – This condition affects both sides of the brain and causes a loss of consciousness. The child may be sleepy and tired after the seizure. It lasts for quite some time. 
  • Absence seizures – This type of seizure has a sudden onset, and the child may stare, blink rapidly, or have facial twitching. This condition lasts for less than 15 seconds. 
  • Atonic Seizures – During atonic seizures, the child experiences a loss of muscle tone that comes on suddenly. They may fall down or become limp and stop responding. They usually last less than 15 seconds. These are also called drop seizures. 
  • Generalized Tonic-Clonic seizures (GTC) – GTC, or grand mal seizure, has phases. A child’s body and limbs will first contract, then straighten, and then shake. The muscles will then contract and relax. The last stage is the postictal period, where the child will be tired and confused. GTCs usually begin in childhood and last for 1–3 minutes. 
  • Myoclonic seizures – This type of seizure causes sudden jerking of the muscles. Myoclonic seizures usually last 1 or 2 seconds, and many can occur in a short time. People with brief myoclonic seizures do not lose consciousness. 
  • Focal seizures – It is also called partial seizures. They affect only one side of the brain and typically target a specific muscle group. Focal seizures are divided into the following types-
  • Focal Non-Motor Seizures – In this type, the child has extreme fluctuations in the emotional behavior. Heart rate increases and the child may feel cold or hot. 
  • Focal Motor Seizures – It affects muscle activity and causes jerking and repetitive movements, due to which the child starts rubbing or clapping his hands. 
  • Focal Aware Seizures – In this type, the child has general seizures. It can also be called a simple partial seizure. 
  • Focal Impaired Aware Seizures – This type of seizure is very complex. In this, the child does not understand anything. The child does not remember anything after the seizure. 

What are the Causes of Epilepsy in Children? 

Seizures can occur due to different reasons depending on the age of the children. However, in some children, the problem of epilepsy is genetic. Many other reasons may also cause epileptic seizures, such as a head injury can increase the risk of epileptic seizures. 

  • Some cases may be caused by changing brain size. 
  • Children with autism may have epileptic seizures. 
  • A newborn child may have epileptic seizures due to disorder and an imbalance of body chemicals. 
  • Children may have an increased risk of epilepsy due to brain-related problems. 
  • Damage to the brain in any way can cause epilepsy.

What are the Symptoms of Epilepsy in Children? 

The following symptoms may occur in children with epilepsy. 

Motor symptoms – 

  • Muscle twitching
  • Muscle cramps
  • Muscle rigidity
  • Sudden muscle jerking
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Having trouble speaking
  • Rubbing or clapping hands
  • Loss of consciousness 

Non-Motor Symptoms – 

  • Changes in skin color
  • Sudden loss of perception
  • Finding it difficult to explain 
  • Staring at a particular object 
  • Emotional changes

What are the Treatments for Epilepsy in Children?

Epileptic seizures in children are treated based on the cause and age of the child. Firstly, the focus is on reducing the frequency of seizures in the child. The doctor prescribes certain medicines for this. In some severe cases, brain surgery may be advised. We will tell you about the following treatments. 

  • If the child shows no response to the medicines, then he is put on a ketogenic diet. In this, carbohydrate intake is reduced in the body that minimizes the risk of seizures. 
  • It is recommended to take antiepileptic medicines to control epilepsy. 
  • If medicines and dietary changes do not provide any relief, then the doctor recommends brain surgery. 

How to Prevent Epilepsy in Children?

Firstly, you should try to identify the cause of epileptic seizures. Then try to prevent those factors that can trigger epileptic seizures in the child. Some of the following measures can be taken to prevent epilepsy in children. 

  • Ask the children to walk or run carefully to prevent any fall or injury. 
  • Give a high protein diet to children and cut down carbohydrates from their diet. If there is any problem with diet in children, then talk to a specialist. 
  • Protect children from head injuries and recommend wearing helmets while cycling. 
  • Give the children antiepileptic medicines at the right time. 
  • Advise children to sleep at the right time because a lack of sleep can cause seizures. 
  • Do not take children to a noisy place because noise increases the risk of seizures. 
  • Excessive stress causes epileptic seizures in children. Therefore, avoid stress as much as possible. 

If your child shows any signs of epilepsy, then contact the Pediatric Neurologist without any delay. 

We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you good advice because no one else is better than them.


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