June 28 is the 18th International Epilepsy Awareness Day, and the theme of this year's "Awareness Day" is "Pay Attention To The Comorbidities of Epilespy".
Pediatric epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in childhood. During a seizure, your child may suddenly experience symptoms such as loss of consciousness, twitching of limbs, and foaming at the mouth, but some seizures may be mild, such as brief moments of daze, blinking, or slight shaking of limbs. Most of these symptoms are recurrent, stereotyped, and the timing and frequency of each episode are similar.
1. What are the causes of pediatric epilepsy?
There are a variety of causes of pediatric epilepsy. Genetics may play a role in this, and if there is a family history of epilepsy, the risk of a child may increase. In addition, abnormal brain development, birth trauma, infection, head trauma, etc. can also trigger seizures.
Comorbidities of epilepsy are increasingly being emphasized. According to statistics, about 50% of people with epilepsy have at least one comorbidity disease, and the comorbidity rate of people with epilepsy is twice that of the general population. In addition to anti-seizure treatment, it is important to pay attention to the early identification, evaluation and intervention of other comorbid diseases, such as cognitive impairment, ADHD, autism, sleep disorder, etc., so that comprehensive management can be improved.
2. How to treat pediatric epilepsy?
For pediatric epilepsy, early diagnosis and standardized treatment are crucial. When parents find that their child has suspicious seizure symptoms, they should take their child to the doctor in time and have a detailed examination, such as video electroencephalogram and cranial magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the diagnosis.
The goal of treating pediatric epilepsy is to control seizures, reduce the impact on children's intellectual and physical development, and improve quality of life. Treatment mainly includes medication, surgery, neuromodulation, and a ketogenic diet. Medication is the most common method, and it is necessary to choose the appropriate drug according to the child's age, weight, seizure type, or various definite epilepsy syndromes, etc., and should actively search for the cause, determine whether there are comorbidities, and follow the principle of individualized treatment. During the treatment process, parents should strictly follow the doctor's instructions to give their children medicine, and should not increase or decrease the dosage or stop the drug by themselves, so as not to affect the treatment effect or even lead to aggravation of the condition. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the child's reaction after taking the medicine, whether there are adverse reactions, etc.
3. What should parents pay attention to when their children have seizures?
1. Stay calm, avoid panicking, prevent injury to the child, and remove items that may cause injury around you.
2. Let the child lie on his side to facilitate the flow of secretions from the mouth and prevent aspiration.
3. Do not forcibly compress the child's limb to avoid causing fractures and other injuries.
4. Record the manifestations and duration of seizures so that accurate information can be provided when seeking medical attention.
Childhood is often considered a critical period in the treatment of epilepsy. Children's brains are still in the development stage and have strong plasticity, and active treatment during this period is not only conducive to the recovery and improvement of brain function, but also very important for children's psychological and cognitive development, which can reduce psychological problems and learning difficulties caused by diseases.
Pediatric epilepsy is not terrible, parents should help their children correctly understand epilepsy, encourage them to face the disease bravely, timely diagnosis, standardized treatment, and meticulous care. With the development of science and technology, the 5-year seizure-free rate has reached 75% with only drug treatment, and it is possible for children to have a normal life and future. Let's work together to support a caring sky for children with epilepsy, so that they can grow up healthy and happy.
Author: Gong Hui
Source: Shenyang Fifth People's Hospital
Editor: Wang Yumiao
Proofreading: Chai Yang, Chen Zeming
Preliminary review: Li Qiushuang
Review: Xu Jiang