Epilepsy in children

Epilepsy in children

Epilepsy in children

Watching your child have their first seizure was probably one of the scariest moments of your life. Finding out that your child has epilepsy could be different. The future can suddenly feel daunting and uncertain for your child and your entire family. But as you may already know, the news is not as bad as it sounds. Here are some things to keep in mind if your child has 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.
  • 70% to 80% of children with epilepsy can control the condition completely with medication.

Experts point out that there is no cure for epilepsy, and the treatment for seizures is to control them. They also note that in children, drug-controlled seizures often go away on their own.

This does not mean that dealing with epilepsy is easy, and it will almost certainly change your family. As a parent of a child with epilepsy, you will have new responsibilities. Obviously, you need to make sure your child gets good medical care, but that's not all.

You will need to make sure your child is taking medication. You may also need to become your child's advocate by explaining epilepsy to family, friends, and teachers who may not understand or fear the condition.

So while raising a child with epilepsy can sometimes be difficult, remember that treatment works and a child with epilepsy should lead a fairly normal life with some restrictions. Epilepsy is not as scary as it seems.

Defining epilepsy

Epilepsy is not a single disease. Rather, it is a general term: a person with epilepsy has seizures, but the cause and type of these seizures can be very different. As an analogy, experts cite prostate cancer and breast cancer. Both are cancers, but the causes, development, and treatment of these conditions differ. There are many types of epilepsy that may require different types of treatment.

Similarly, the effects of epilepsy are much more complex than those of a health condition. Experts say treating epilepsy is more than just treating seizures. In epilepsy, psychological and cognitive effects, as well as the impact on the whole family, must be considered. But the first thing you and your doctor should do is stop the seizures, usually with medication. Fortunately, there are many effective drugs for epilepsy. 


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