childhood epilepsy stefanie jean-baptiste berry, md pediatric epileptologist northeast regional...
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Childhood Childhood EpilepsyEpilepsy
Childhood Childhood EpilepsyEpilepsy
Stefanie Jean-Baptiste Berry, MDStefanie Jean-Baptiste Berry, MDPediatric EpileptologistPediatric Epileptologist
Northeast Regional Epilepsy GroupNortheast Regional Epilepsy Group
What is Epilepsy?• 2 or more unprovoked seizures• Incidence <10 years old 5.2 to 8.1
per 1,000 (highest <1 year)• Causes: Brain malformations, birth
injury, infection, tumor & trauma; 69% with unknown cause
What is a seizure?• Abnormal and excessive electrical
activity of brain cells (neurons)• Seizure types: Generalized Focal (Partial) Focal with secondary
generalization
• Generalized Seizures: 1.) Generalized tonic-clonic (grand
mal)- Unconscious, whole body shaking; variable duration
2.) Absence (petit mal) – Staring, unawareness, brief (seconds)
3.) Myoclonic – Brief jerk of arm or leg
4.) Atonic – Sudden drop
• Focal (Partial) Seizures: 1.) Simple – Consciousness
preserved; twitching of one side of face or body, numbness, visual
2.) Complex – Impaired consciousness; twitching, head/eye deviation etc.
Testing• EEG – records brain activity;
seizures or potential for seizures• Video-EEG – prolonged; overnight
in hospital• MRI of brain – picture of brain;
look for abnormal structure
• Common EEG abnormalities:
1.) Slowing 2.) Spikes 3.) Seizures
Normal
Slowing
Spikes
Spikes
Seizure
Treatment 1.) Medication: • Trileptal, Tegretol, Keppra, Depakote, Lamictal
and Phenobarbital• Choice based on type of seizures, EEG findings,
side effects, age and sex• 2nd med may be added if seizures not controlled
2.) Ketogenic Diet – high fat and protein; low carb
3.) Surgery/Vagal Nerve Stimulator
Epilepsy Syndromes• Typical Absence • Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy• Benign Epilepsy in Childhood with
Centrotemporal Spikes (Rolandic Epilepsy)
Typical Absence• Generalized seizures• Sudden discontinuation of activity
with loss of awareness, responsiveness, and memory, with an abrupt recovery
• Most common in the first decade, particularly ages 5-7 years of age
Typical Absence
• Most patients with typical absence have normal neurological exams and intelligence scores
• Generalized spikes on EEG• Medications: Zarontin, Lamictal,
Depakote
Typical Absence• Average age when seizures stop is
10 years old• Typical absence seizures generally
have a good prognosis – resolves in approximately 80 percent of cases
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
• Myoclonic jerks, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and sometimes absence seizures
• Usual age at onset of absence seizures is 7 to 13 years; myoclonic jerks, 12 to 18 years; generalized tonic-clonic seizures, 13 to 20 years
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
• More likely to have seizures with sleep deprivation and alcohol ingestion
• Risk for seizures is lifelong• Photic stimulation often provokes a
discharge. • Seizures are usually well-controlled
with medication (Depakote, Lamictal)
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
• Onset is between 3 and 13 years • Peak age of onset is 7-8 years• Resolves by age 16• Normal intelligence amd
neurological exam• Seizures usually happen after
falling asleep or before awakening
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
• One-sided numbness of the face, one-sided clonic or tonic activity involving the face, unable to speak, drooling
• No loss of consciousness• Can have secondarily generalized
tonic-clonic seizures
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
• Spikes in midtemporal and central head region
• More spikes in drowsiness and sleep and 30% of cases show spikes only during sleep
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
• No treatment is necessary in patients with infrequent, nocturnal, partial seizures
• If seizures are frequent and/or disturbing to patient and family, treatment with Tegretol or Trileptal
• Good prognosis
Seizure Safety • Lay child on floor on his/her side • Do not restrain• Nothing in the mouth• Diastat (rectal valium)• Call ambulance• May be confused or sleepy after
Seizures Precautions• Avoid heights >4 feet• No baths• Swimming should be supervised• Keep bathroom door unlocked• Teens – no driving X 1 year
Other• Good to inform school of child’s
condition• May play sports if seizures well
controlled• Videogames okay for most
Prognosis• Depends on seizure type• Usually treat at lest 2 years• Absence – 80% resolve• JME- respond well to treatment but
need meds for life• Neurologically abnormal often
difficult to control seizures
Prognosis• Injuries common in epilepsy
(Generalized tonic-clonic)• Lacerations, Fractures, Burns• SUDEP not very common (2.3
times more than general population)
Febrile Seizures• Not epilepsy• Often a family history• Seizures only occur with fever in
children age 6 months – 6 years• Up to 4% of children
• Simple – 1 brief seizure (genralized)• Complex – prolonged; more than 1;
focal• Developmental delay or family history
of epilepsy – more develop epilepsy• 1/3 have second (1/2 of that third
have third)
• Increase risk of recurrence if 1st before 18 months or lower temperature
• Increase risk of epilepsy if >3 febrile• Testing unnecessary with simple• Focal need MRI• EEG in high risk• Treatment usually not necessary
Resources• www.epilepsygroup.com• www.epilepsyfoundation.org• www.epilepsyadvocate.com• www.paceusa.org• www.epilepsy.com
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