The following Q&A will help you understand what to look for, what to do if you think your child has had a first seizure, and what happens next.
What is a seizure? Our brain cells communicate with each other through tiny electrical impulses. A seizure is an electrical discharge in the brain that can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, depending on which part of the brain is affected.
What are the signs and symptoms of a seizure? Most of us are familiar with the signs of a major seizure (falling to the ground, frothing at the mouth, shaking all over). However, many seizures trigger more subtle symptoms, such as brief staring spells, unusual movements, momentary confusion, a quick drop of the head, or odd behavior that lasts from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Be on the lookout for these smaller events, especially when they happen more than once.
What should I do if my child shows any of these milder signs? Discuss any signs with your pediatrician to see if an evaluation by an epilepsy specialist is necessary. Early attention and evaluation may help avoid a bigger seizure in the future. If your doctor says it’s nothing to worry about, but you still feel something is wrong, ask for a referral to a pediatric neurologist.
What if my child has a big seizure? If your child is having an obvious seizure with major motor movements or falls unconscious during the event, call 9-1-1. Immediate evaluation is important because sometimes conditions that trigger electrical disturbances in the brain need urgent treatment. That said, it most often turns out that a child does not have a condition requiring immediate intervention.
What causes seizures? There are many different causes, and sometimes we never find out what triggered them. Sometimes, they result from a genetic defect. They also can be caused by a previous problem in the brain—such as an infection, lack of oxygen at birth, or traumatic brain injury—that produced a scar. A scar in the brain can later lead to a seizure, often after a significant interval.
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What Causes Epilepsy? Sixty million Americans will develop epilepsy during their lifetimes. Let's look at why.Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: http://www.healthguru.com/?YT
44 iParent Magazine August 2015 www.iparentmagazine.com