| Epilepsy | Epilepsy | Epilepsy | E | English | Neurology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Brain | Nervous system | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2018-01-19T05:00:00Z | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Landing Page | Learning Hub | <p>A seizure is caused by a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain. Because the brain controls the body, this disturbance affects the body. Find information about different types of seizures, diagnostic procedures and treatment options.</p> | <p>Epilepsy (seizure disorder) is diagnosed when a child has two or more unprovoked seizures (seizures that are not caused by an acute illness, fever or immediate head injury). A seizure is caused by a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain. Because the brain controls the body, this disturbance affects the body. Find information about epilepsy, including seizure and syndrome descriptions, diagnostic procedures, treatment options, and coping at home and at school.</p><p></p> | | | <div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">About epilepsy</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Epilepsy, or seizure disorder, is a general term for a number of different conditions. Learn about the different types of epilepsy, what can cause seizures and what to do in case of a seizure. </p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=845&language=English">Epilepsy: An overview</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1307&language=English">An overview of the brain</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2057&language=English">What causes seizures?</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2058&language=English">Types of epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2059&language=English">Genetics of epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2060&language=English">Signs and symptoms of seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2104&language=English">What to do in case of a seizure</a></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">Understanding epilepsy diagnosis</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Sometimes a diagnosis is made right away, but sometimes it takes a while, especially if your child is very young. Diagnosis may include the type of seizures; whether the seizures are idiopathic, symptomatic or cryptogenic; or if they are a specific epilepsy syndrome. </p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2061&language=English">Understanding your child's epilepsy diagnosis</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2062&language=English">Coping with the diagnosis of epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2063&language=English">Prognosis for a child with epilepsy</a></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Types of seizures</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2064&language=English">Types of seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2065&language=English">Absence seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2066&language=English">Tonic, clonic and tonic-clonic seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2067&language=English">Myoclonic seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2068&language=English">Atonic seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2069&language=English">Simple partial seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2070&language=English">Complex partial seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2071&language=English">Status epilepticus</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2072&language=English">Neonatal seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1&language=English">Febrile seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2088&language=English">Pyridoxine-dependent seizures</a></li></ol></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Epilepsy syndromes</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=859&language=English">Infantile spasms</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2073&language=English">Benign partial epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS)</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2074&language=English">Temporal lobe epilepsies</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2075&language=English">Rasmussen syndrome</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2076&language=English">Childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2077&language=English">Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2078&language=English">Lennox-Gastaut syndrome</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2079&language=English">Landau-Kleffner syndrome</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2080&language=English">Reflex epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2081&language=English">Partial epilepsy syndromes</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2082&language=English">Generalized epilepsy syndromes</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2083&language=English">Encephalopathies and progressive epilepsy syndromes</a></li></ol></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Diagnostic procedures</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2084&language=English">How epilepsy is diagnosed</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1277&language=English">EEG (Electroencephalogram)</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1272&language=English">CT Scan</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1270&language=English">Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2085&language=English">Diagnosing causes of seizures through blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine tests</a></li></ol></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">Treatment of epilepsy with medications</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Medications called anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are the first choice of treatment for epilepsy. For most children, the first medication tried is successful in controlling their seizures. Learn about the different medications that are used.</p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2086&language=English">Medications for epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2089&language=English">Side effects and interactions from anti-epileptic drugs</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2090&language=English">Managing and monitoring anti-epileptic drugs</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2087&language=English">Common anti-epileptic drugs</a></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Common anti-epileptic drugs</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=63&language=English">Acetazolamide</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=90&language=English">Carbamazepine</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=106&language=English">Clobazam</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=107&language=English">Clonazepam</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=123&language=English">Diazepam</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=133&language=English">Ethosuximide</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=145&language=English">Gabapentin</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=168&language=English">Lamotrigine</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=172&language=English">Levetiracetam</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=175&language=English">Lorazepam</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=200&language=English">Nitrazepam</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=215&language=English">Phenobarbital</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=216&language=English">Phenytoin</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=255&language=English">Topiramate</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=258&language=English">Valproate</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=260&language=English">Vigabatrin</a></li></ol></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">Treatment of epilepsy with surgery</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>If medications fail to control the seizures, another kind of treatment, such as surgery, may be considered. Find information about the different types of surgery that are possible. </p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2091&language=English">Surgical treatment of epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2092&language=English">Deciding about epilepsy surgery: Points to consider</a></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Pre-surgical evaluation</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1280&language=English">Evoked potentials (EP)</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2047&language=English">Electroencephalogram (EEG) before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2048&language=English">Epilepsy monitoring unit: Testing with video EEG</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2049&language=English">Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2050&language=English">Functional MRI before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2051&language=English">Magnetoencephalography (MEG) before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2052&language=English">Positron emission tomography (PET) scan before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2053&language=English">Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2054&language=English">Neuropsychological assessment before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2055&language=English">Etomidate speech and memory (eSAM) test before epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2056&language=English">Invasive electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring before epilepsy surgery</a></li></ol></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Epilepsy surgery</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1108&language=English">Preparing for surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2093&language=English">What to expect on the day of epilepsy surgery</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2094&language=English">Temporal resection</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2095&language=English">Extratemporal resection</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2096&language=English">Corpus callosotomy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2097&language=English">Hemispherectomy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2103&language=English">Controlling epilepsy with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)</a></li></ol></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">Dietary therapies for epilepsy</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Dietary therapy is a type of treatment that can be tried if medications are not working or are causing severe side effects, and for children where surgery is not an option. All forms of dietary therapy involve restricting carbohydrates and increasing fat. </p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2098&language=English">Dietary therapies for epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2099&language=English">Ketogenic diet for epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2100&language=English">Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet for epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2101&language=English">Modified Atkins diet for epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2102&language=English">Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) for epilepsy</a></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">At home and at school</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Epilepsy involves more than simply trying to manage seizures. Living with epilepsy can be a very stressful experience. Learn about seizure safety, epilepsy and your child’s health, coping with epilepsy as a family, your child’s quality of life and issues related to school. </p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2104&language=English">What to do in case of a seizure</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2105&language=English">How to keep your child safe inside and outside the home</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2106&language=English">Clinic visits for a child with epilepsy</a></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Coping with epilepsy</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;">
<li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2108&language=English">Looking after yourself when a child has epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2109&language=English">Helping your child cope with epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2110&language=English">Coping with epilepsy as a family</a></li></ol></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Epilepsy and quality of life</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2111&language=English">Epilepsy and physical health</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2112&language=English">Epilepsy and learning</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2113&language=English">Epilepsy and behaviour</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2114&language=English">Epilepsy and emotions</a></li></ol></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Epilepsy and school</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2115&language=English">Assessing your child's learning needs</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2116&language=English">Epilepsy at school</a></li></ol></li><li><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h3>Leisure and recreation</h3></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2117&language=English">Epilepsy and travel</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2118&language=English">Epilepsy and sports</a></li></ol></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">Looking ahead</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Find information about some of the specific issues you and your family will face during the transition into adulthood, including the transition to adult epilepsy care; driving; going to college or university; and dating, sexuality and pregnancy. </p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2119&language=English">Epilepsy: Transition to adult health care</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2120&language=English">Driving with epilepsy</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2121&language=English">Epilepsy and college or university</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2122&language=English">Sex and reproduction</a></li></ol></div><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading clickable">
<span class="pull-right panel-heading-collapsable-icon">
<i class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></i></span>
<h2 class="panel-title">Epilepsy resources and support</h2></div><div class="panel-body list-group" style="display:none;"><p>Find some information about different types of resources and support. Also learn about clinical trials, research and informed consent.</p></div><ol class="list-group" style="display:none;"><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=2123&language=English">Epilepsy resources and support</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1267&language=English">Research and clinical trials: An overview</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1264&language=English">Clinical trials and your child</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="/Article?contentid=1265&language=English">Informed consent for treatment and research</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/PDF_Parents_Checklist.pdf">Epilepsy Checklist – What do you know about your child’s epilepsy?</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/PDF_My_Childs_Care_Team.pdf">My child's epilepsy care team</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/PDF_Recording_Seizures.pdf">Describing and recording seizures</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/PDF_Teens_Checklist.pdf">Epilepsy Checklist for Teens – What do you know about your epilepsy?</a></li><li class="list-group-item">
<a class="overview-links" href="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/PDF_Care_Team_Teens.pdf">My epilepsy care team (for teens)</a></li></ol></div> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/epilepsy_learning_hub.jpg | epilepsy | | | |
