Epilepsy is a disorder in which there is abnormal brain activity that results in recurrent seizures or ‘fits.’ It is more common in children and the elderly. The diagnosis of childhood epilepsy is usually made if a child has 2 or more seizures for unexplainable reasons. There are several types of childhood epilepsy, each with different signs and symptoms.
Broadly seizures are classified as generalized seizures where the abnormal electrical activity involves the whole brain, and partial or focal seizures where the abnormal activity begins in one part of the brain and may or may not spread to other parts of the brain.
Some seizures are very dramatic such as the grand mal or generalized tonic clonic seizure where the child will let out a scream followed by jerking of the body and may have loss of bladder and bowel control, frothing at the mouth, and tongue biting.
Another dramatic seizure is a drop attack or atonic seizure where the patient may suddenly lose muscle tone and this can result in serious injury. Children diagnosed with such seizures are advised to wear a helmet to prevent head injury in case a seizure occurs while riding their bikes.
Other seizures are very subtle and the diagnosis can be often missed, such as the petit mal or absence seizure. The child may experience brief episodes of staring and this may occur several times a day to the extent that it interferes with academic performance. Such children may sometimes be misdiagnosed as having attention deficit disorder or a learning disability. Another subtle seizure is a myoclonic jerk, which is very similar to a muscle spasm.
Different from generalized seizures are the focal seizures that may be preceded by a warning aura. The more common type is the complex partial seizure where the child will stare with unresponsiveness or make some abnormal movements like lip smacking, tongue clicking, or hand picking.
Seizures usually last for a few minutes and are followed by a period of drowsiness and confusion. Properly diagnosing and treating childhood epilepsy will improve performance at school and help children live fairly normal lives.
North Suffolk Neurology is a full-service Neurology, Headache Medicine, and Sleep Medicine practice consisting of dedicated, experienced staff committed to helping our patients and their families maintain and improve their health. For all in-office appointments & inquiries, please call (631) 364-9119. You can also schedule a telehealth appointment by calling (631) 886-4571.
