Seizures in Children: Doctor Shares Causes, Warning Signs, Treatment Options And When to Seek Medical Help

Know expert insights on seizures in children from a doctor covering causes, warning signs, treatment options, and when parents should seek urgent medical help.

Seizures in children can occur suddenly, disrupting the electrical system of the brain and leaving kids and parents feeling scared and confused. A study by the National Library of Medicine reports that 4 10% of kids have a seizure at some point during their childhood, but only 1% develop epilepsy, a disorder of frequent seizures. That can leave parents feeling panicked at the possible danger that is in front of them or in fear of a possible future. The positive news is that you can also use that anxiety and turn it into readiness when you learn to identify the triggers, the ways to identify the indicators, and also what to do when a seizure occurs. Knowing the first part is very important to keeping your child safer and getting them medical help without a lot of wasted time.

Seizures: Causes

Seizures occur when the brain's electrical activity impulsively goes out of control. While the specific trigger often isn't known, some recognised triggers include:

1. Fever or infection: A high fever can trigger a febrile seizure, which is most common in children 6 months to 6 years of age.
2. Head injury: Trauma may lead to changes in the brain.
3. Brain tumours: Abnormal growths may change the electrical signals.
4. Metabolic/electrolyte disturbance: Too low blood sugar or calcium, or sodium may change how the brain functions.
5. Meningitis/encephalitis: an infection of the lining of the brain.
6. Genetics: Family history may make someone more likely to have seizures.

Seizures: Signs And Symptoms

According to Dr Mithilesh Kumar, Consultant- Neurology, Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad, "Seizures can appear in many different ways, ranging from mild to severe. During a seizure, a child may have jerky movements of the arms and legs, their body may become stiff, they may clench their teeth, have Developmental Disorders Association blinking rapidly, nod their head, or they may just suddenly drop and become unconscious." Some seizures can include a period of fixing or staring into space, known as an absence seizure, and can be very hard to detect. Other indicators may include drooling, foaming and loss of control of bowel and bladder.

How to Manage a Seizure?

Seeing your child having a seizure may be frightening to you, but the point that you need to remember is that you have to stay calm.Should you have to help your child through a seizure to ensure his/her safety, you would want to ensure that anything that could hurt the child was pushed out of the area, an object soft enough underneath the child's head, and roll the child on his/her side to ensure that he/she did not block his/her air passage.You do not want anything in your mouth or anything not moving.You just desire to loosen tight clothes.

Seizures: Medical Care and Treatment

You will also want to note the time of the seizure and any unusual behaviours immediately before or after the seizure. If the child comes under medical supervision, maybe they will receive anti-seizure medication, be monitored for hydration and electrolytes, and have some tests run (diagnostic), like an EEG or imaging for prognostic purposes and to determine the issue. The child may be referred to a pediatric neurology service that is specialised and comprehensive, and also ensures they are available for emergency appointments (24/7) when the child is seizing.

In severe cases, following consultation and assessment, surgical procedures may be indicated, whereby the brain region responsible for seizures can be removed or sterilely disconnected from the remaining brain.