Epilepsy
Learning HubEpilepsy (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.
About epilepsy
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.
Understanding epilepsy diagnosis
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.
- Understanding your child's epilepsy diagnosis
- Coping with the diagnosis of epilepsy
- Prognosis for a child with epilepsy
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Types of seizures
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Epilepsy syndromes
- Benign partial epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS)
- Temporal lobe epilepsies
- Rasmussen syndrome
- Childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy
- Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
- Landau-Kleffner syndrome
- Reflex epilepsy
- Partial epilepsy syndromes
- Generalized epilepsy syndromes
- Encephalopathies and progressive epilepsy syndromes
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Diagnostic procedures
Treatment of epilepsy with medications
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.
Treatment of epilepsy with surgery
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.
- Surgical treatment of epilepsy
- Deciding about epilepsy surgery: Points to consider
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Pre-surgical evaluation
- Evoked potentials (EP)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) before epilepsy surgery
- Epilepsy monitoring unit: Testing with video EEG
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before epilepsy surgery
- Functional MRI before epilepsy surgery
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) before epilepsy surgery
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan before epilepsy surgery
- Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan before epilepsy surgery
- Neuropsychological assessment before epilepsy surgery
- Etomidate speech and memory (eSAM) test before epilepsy surgery
- Invasive electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring before epilepsy surgery
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Epilepsy surgery
Dietary therapies for epilepsy
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.
At home and at school
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.
- What to do in case of a seizure
- How to keep your child safe inside and outside the home
- Clinic visits for a child with epilepsy
- Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
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Coping with epilepsy
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Epilepsy and quality of life
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Epilepsy and school
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Leisure and recreation
Looking ahead
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.
Epilepsy resources and support
Find some information about different types of resources and support. Also learn about clinical trials, research and informed consent.
- Epilepsy resources and support
- Research and clinical trials: An overview
- Clinical trials and your child
- Informed consent for treatment and research
- Epilepsy Checklist – What do you know about your child’s epilepsy?
- My child's epilepsy care team
- Describing and recording seizures
- Epilepsy Checklist for Teens – What do you know about your epilepsy?
- My epilepsy care team (for teens)