Dr. Majid Kihani Fard
Tehran
کد عضویت: System number: 79103
What are the symptoms of seizures in children and why do they occur? Seizures in children is a periodic disorder in the electrical activity of the brain and causes temporary damage to brain function.
When older children or young children have seizures, they often have common symptoms, such as shaking or shaking all or part of their body, but infants may only move their lips, chew unconsciously, and have periodic tremors. When a child has a seizure, parents and those around the child should try to protect the child from danger, such as moving the child away from potential objects, stairs, etc.. primarily based on the cause, but if after Treat the cause of seizures, give the child antidote Seizures are given.. A seizure is an uncontrollable and abnormal electrical discharge in the nerve cells of the brain or a part of the brain.. These abnormal discharges can alter consciousness or cause abnormal feelings, unconscious movements or tension.. or for which specific cause is not found.... Seizures in children are often similar to seizures in adults... but some types of seizures, such as febrile seizures and infantile spasms, only occur in children.... Some problems in children Such as cessation of breathing and night terrors may resemble seizures, but do not involve abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Seizures themselves do not cause permanent brain damage or problems unless they last more than an hour (most seizures last only a few minutes). Seizures in children can be caused by the following...
- Serious diseases such as brain abnormalities, brain damage during pregnancy, lack of oxygen during childbirth or severe infections
- Genetic diseases that can be caused by mutations (changes) in genes, such as hereditary metabolic diseases.. - The mother's use of certain drugs during pregnancy.
Seizures caused by hereditary metabolic diseases usually begin in infancy... Seizure symptoms in children
Seizures in children can be difficult to recognize... Babies may move their lips or make involuntary movements such as chewing... Their eyes may seem to move in different directions... They may rest for a while.... In older infants or young children, one or all parts of the body may twitch, move rapidly, or stiffen.... Lips may move aimlessly. Children may feel numbness or tingling.
EEG electroencephalography
- Other tests to evaluate the cause
An infant with seizures should be evaluated immediately for serious, treatable causes....go to the article Symptoms of Seizures in Infants....if the child has seizures, the doctor will do a physical exam....he will also ask the parents about a family history of epilepsy....electroencephalography (EEG - a test in which brain waves are recorded using an abdominal sensor)..electrical activity of the brain....EEG in children and infants both awake and It is done while you are sleeping... Doctors will do other tests to evaluate the cause... These tests may include:
- Blood oxygen measurement using a sensor embedded on the finger (pulse oximetry) to assess whether the blood oxygen level is low or not... - Blood test to measure blood sugar (glucose), calcium, magnesium, sodium and other substances to check metabolic diseases... - Spinal fluid extraction to obtain a sample of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) which is used to check for brain infection and other diseases. Hemorrhages, tumors and other structural damage to the brain tissue (for example, in a stroke).. - Immediate measures to prevent damage
- Treatment of the root cause
- Antiepileptic drugs
Treatment of seizures in children and infants focuses on treating the underlying cause of seizures... Sometimes children need to use anticonvulsants to control seizures... When a child has a seizure, parents and those around the child should try to protect him from harm:
- Place the child on your side
- Keep the child away from possible dangers (such as stairs and sharp objects).
- Do not put anything in the child's mouth and do not try to hold his tongue
#### After a seizure in children, it is necessary to do the following:
- Staying with the child until full awakening
- Check if the child is breathing well, if not, start mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing (if the child is convulsing, artificial respiration is not necessary and can harm the child).
If the child is not conscious or too young to take medicine, you can use acetaminophen suppository, and if he is conscious, you can give him acetaminophen or ibuprofen to eat.
- The child is injured during a seizure or has breathing problems after a seizure
- Immediately another seizure occurs
All children who experience seizures for the first time should be taken to the hospital.... In a child with known epilepsy, parents should ask the doctor when a seizure occurs and if an emergency evaluation is needed.. A seizure that lasts 15 minutes or longer is a medical emergency. breathing It should be monitored....If the antiepileptic medication manages the seizures, it may be discontinued after the child is discharged....Discontinuation of the antiepileptic medication in the child depends on the cause of the seizure, its severity, and the result of the EEG treatment....Long-term treatment of seizures in children may include:
- Antiepileptic drug
- Ketogenic diet
- Surgery
#### Antiepileptic drug
If a child only has one seizure, there is usually no need to use anti-seizure drugs, as these drugs are used for frequent seizures and seizures that are likely to recur.. blood and know if the amount of medicine is correct or not... This test may be repeated by changing the amount of medicine or taking a new medicine.... Continuing to take the medicine depends on the cause of the child's seizures and how long the child has been without seizures... Most children will continue to take the medicine for two years if there are no seizures because the risk of seizures in this case is less than 50%.. However, having a disease that affects the brain and nerves (such as cerebral palsy) increases the risk of another seizure.. Ketogenic diet
In some cases a ketogenic diet is recommended.. this diet restricts very low carbohydrates and very high carbohydrates.. when the body uses fat for energy, a substance called ketone is produced.. in some children this ketone helps control seizures... this diet must be followed exactly as prescribed.. there may be anemia, lethargy and weight loss...
If a child continues to have seizures after taking two or more medications, or the side effects of the medications are intolerable, surgery may be considered to treat seizures in children... This procedure involves removing an area of the brain.. less... Stimulation of the vagus nerve can sometimes reduce the number of seizures in children. puts it under the left clavicle bone and connects it to the vagus nerve with a wire that can easily pass under the settings without the skin... Also, when the child feels that a seizure is starting or the people around observe that a seizure is happening, a magnet (often in a bracelet) can be used to increase the stimulation of the device. Possible side effects of using this device include hoarseness, coughing, and hoarseness during the stimulation of the device.. **Dr. Majid Kehani, a neurosurgeon Tehran**