Contents:
- Medical Video: First Aid in Seizures
- Are seizures in children a sign of epilepsy?
- When are seizures in children diagnosed as epilepsy?
- To get the right diagnosis, the child must be tested
Medical Video: First Aid in Seizures
Watching your little one cramp for the first time definitely makes you worry and anxious. Because, seizures are often associated with epilepsy. Is seizure always a sign of epilepsy? When is the seizure in a child declared epilepsy? Find out the answer below.
Are seizures in children a sign of epilepsy?
Seizures are indeed one of the typical symptoms of epilepsy. However, not all seizures indicate epilepsy. Children without epilepsy are also likely to experience seizures. Seizures are caused by an electric burst in the brain that disrupts brain activity.
Most children have experienced seizures, normally only once. This seizure usually occurs in children aged 6 months to 5 years. When this condition occurs, the child can do strange repetitive movements, such as holding hands and feet or losing consciousness for about 30 seconds or longer for about 2 minutes.
When are seizures in children diagnosed as epilepsy?
Seizures that occur without cause and more than once can be considered a symptom of epilepsy. Epilepsy or epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder that causes brain activity to become abnormal. In addition to stamping your feet or hands, seizures can also be marked by a blank stare focused on one point.
You may often see that seizures due to epilepsy will make the child's mouth foam. However, not everyone will experience the same symptoms of epilepsy. This depends on the area of the brain that is affected. Then, seizures are not always marked with a foot or hand, there are many variations of seizures that may occur in children, such as:
- The limbs become stiff as if they cannot be moved
- A sensation of twitching appears next to the eye or part of the face
- The child appears dazed or daydreaming for a moment then lost consciousness
- The child suddenly fell like losing power
To get the right diagnosis, the child must be tested
When you see a child having a seizure for the first time, take the child to the doctor. Children will get better care and the possibility of various unwanted things can be prevented. In addition, you will certainly be more calm after consulting with experts.
Provision of anticonvulsant medication may be prescribed if the child is at risk of having a seizure again. Your child may be recommended for further medical tests, such as:
- Blood test.Check for signs of infection, genetic conditions, or possible diseases other than epilepsy.
- Neurological examination (nerve).Test motor skills, mental functions, and behavior of children to determine the type of epilepsy.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG).The most common test for diagnosing epilepsy is by attaching electrodes to the scalp to see brain activity.
- Imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRI.This test is done to determine which area of the brain has a problem.
The health test is carried out not only to get a diagnosis, but also to determine the type of epilepsy medication, the type of epilepsy, and the prognosis of the disease.
If your child is declared positive for having epilepsy, he should take anticonvulsant medication. According to the Indonesian Pediatrician Association page, most children with epilepsy need treatment for up to 2 years free of seizures. Many studies have shown that the rate of recurrence of seizures will be smaller if your child drinks medicine for up to 2 years free of seizures compared to just taking medication until a year is free of seizures.
