What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that causes seizures. A seizure happens when there’s an abnormal discharge of electrical activity in the brain.

If you have epilepsy, your risk of having a seizure is higher than it would be in someone who doesn’t have the disorder. But many people with epilepsy never have one, and those who do usually only have one or two a year.

The exact cause of epilepsy isn’t known, but it appears to be related to problems with brain development or function. Epilepsy can range from mild to severe. Some types of epilepsy can be controlled with medication or surgery, while others require lifelong treatment or may not respond well to treatment at all.

Understanding epilepsy and seizures

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes seizures. With seizures, groups of neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain send signals at once instead of sending them one at a time.

Seizures can be either simple or complex. Simple seizures only involve one part of the brain, while complex seizures involve more than one part.

Most people with epilepsy have what’s called partial seizures, which affects only one area of the brain. These usually cause mild symptoms and last less than five minutes. Seizure symptoms may include:

• Sudden jerking movements on one side of the body or face
• Loss of consciousness
• Changes in behavior or mood
• Visual changes (seeing bright lights or things that aren’t there)
• Sounds that aren’t really there (auditory hallucinations)

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

There are different types of epilepsy. Most types of seizures can be diagnosed by a doctor during an office visit. The doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam. In some cases, you may need tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnosing epilepsy is not always easy because seizures can look like other conditions or problems. The following tests may be used to diagnose epilepsy:

Electroencephalogram (EEG). This test records the electrical activity in your brain waves. It can show abnormal brain waves associated with epilepsy or other conditions that cause seizures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. A scan uses radio waves and magnets to create images of your body’s internal organs and structures without radiation exposure that occurs with x-rays or CT scans

Blood tests. Blood tests can measure levels of anticonvulsant medication in your blood and rule out other conditions that cause seizures.

How epilepsy diagnosis varies for each child?

There are many different types of epilepsy, and each child has his or her own symptoms and ways of living with the condition. The way a child’s epilepsy is diagnosed depends on many factors, including:

• The type of seizures they have
• Their age and developmental level
• How often they have seizures
• Their level of cognitive ability (how well they can learn and solve problems)
• The cause of their seizures

How is epilepsy treated?

Epilepsy is usually treated with medication and other therapies. Medication can control seizures in about 70 percent of people with epilepsy. In some cases, surgery can help reduce seizures.

Medications used to treat epilepsy include:

Anticonvulsants, which are the most common drugs used to treat epilepsy. These drugs are divided into two groups:

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Divalproex sodium (Depakote)
• Felbamate (Felbatol)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Levetiracetam (Keppra)
• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)
• Primidone (Mysoline)

How long does a child need to take medication for epilepsy?

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in children. The American Academy of Neurology estimates that about 4 million Americans have epilepsy.

It depends on whether they have simple or complex partial seizures. Simple partial seizures do not cause any lasting damage and can be controlled with one or two medications, while complex partial seizures may require more than one medication and possibly more time on medication.