Also known as epilepsy, a seizure disorder is present when a child has experienced more than one seizure that occurs when abnormal and sudden disruptive electrical signals are sent to the brain.
Significance
The Epilepsy Foundation states "326,000 school children through age 15 have epilepsy," and incidence is highest for those under the age of 2.
Types
Four main types of seizures exist: the generalized (absence or petit mal, atonic, tonic-clonic or grand mal, myoclonic), partial/focal (simple and complex), nonepileptic and status epilepticus---when the seizures don't stop. Absence or petit mal seizure is most common in children.
Causes
Reasons for a seizure can range from birth trauma, fever or infection, alcohol use, neurological problems, brain tumors or drug withdrawal, or the reason may simply be unknown.
Treatment
Doctors may prescribe antiepileptic medication, surgery or vagus-nerve stimulation (VNS) that sends small pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck. If those fail, your pediatrician or specialist may try the ketogenic diet, a glucose fast that prevents seizures in some children. This diet needs to be under the direct supervision of a doctor.
Prevention/Solution
While prevention may be unrealistic in some instances, helmets, medication after a first seizure, good prenatal care, and prevention of any disorder that affects the brain all help to prevent seizures. Time may also allow epilepsy to care for itself.
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