What Is Pediatric Epilepsy?

How your telemedicine pediatric neurologist and epileptologist can help your child

Epilepsy is a common problem. In fact, epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. If your child has epilepsy, you already know how disruptive the condition can be. Your pediatric neurologist and epileptologist can help.

Dr. John Millichap at Precision Epilepsy in Chicago, IL, provides a wide range of neurological services, including epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. He helps children in multiple states nationwide via telemedicine.

So, what is epilepsy? It’s a condition involving disturbances in the nerve cells in the brain. These disturbances result in seizures which can be mild to severe. There are several potential causes of epilepsy, including:

● Genetics

● Head trauma

● Brain tumors

● Developmental disorders

● Structural abnormalities in the brain

● Infections, including meningitis and encephalitis

So, how can you tell if your child might have or be having an epileptic seizure? According to Johns Hopkins, the signs and symptoms of an epileptic seizure in children are:

● Staring

● Jerking movements of the arms and legs

● Stiffening of the body

● Loss of consciousness

● Breathing problems or stopping breathing

● Loss of bowel or bladder control

● Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness

● Not responding to noise or words for brief periods

● Appearing confused or in a haze

● Nodding head rhythmically, when associated with loss of awareness or consciousness

● Periods of rapid eye blinking and staring

Your pediatric neurologist can diagnose epilepsy using several diagnostic tools which may include blood tests to determine if your child has an underlying medical condition causing the seizures. Dr. Millichap also may recommend an at home electroencephalogram (EEG) which records electrical activity in your brain. Genetic testing may also be recommended if the cause of seizures is not evident on other tests.

Treatment of epilepsy is typically with anti-seizure medication. The type of medication prescribed depends on the type and frequency of seizures, and other factors.

To find out more about the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, call Dr. John Millichap at Precision Epilepsy in Chicago, IL. You can reach him for a telehealth consultation by calling (833) 530-3034, so call now or visit our website to see which states are currently served.