Answers to questions families often have about caring for their child with seizure disorders

Seizures are sudden, involuntary, time-limited changes in behavior, movement, consciousness, or sensation, accompanied by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Seizures can be triggered (initiated) by acute medical conditions (e.g., trauma, electrolyte disturbances, meningitis) or they can happen without a trigger. Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has multiple untriggered seizures.

Different types of seizures look very different. Some common types are:

• Absence epilepsy, where a child may just blink and looked dazed for a few seconds
• Partial complex seizures, where a child may have an odd sensation and then have some minor jerking on one part of the body
• Generalized tonic clonic, also known as grand mal seizures, where the child may fall to the ground, jerking violently

Your child’s seizure may look a lot different than the descriptions above. Taking a video of the seizure can be useful to help the doctor with diagnosis and treatment.

If you are concerned that some behavior your child has may be seizures, talk with your pediatrician.

To diagnose seizures, a doctor needs to understand the events your child is having, how often he is having them, what brings them on, etc. An EEG (a brain wave test) will often be performed to get information regarding the type of seizure and to help with evaluation and treatment.

Different types of seizures have different prognoses. Some seizures are linked with developmental delay and are very hard to control; others may need life-long medication but have no effect on development; and others may be treated for two years and not happen again. Ask your doctor for more specific information.

The risk for other family members and future babies is based on the type of seizures. Some seizures are caused by genetic abnormalities and may occur in family members. Other types of seizures are caused by environmental factors, such as brain injury, lack of oxygen during pregnancy, trauma, viral or bacterial infection, or have no known cause. These types of seizures would not likely occur in other family members.

Seizures are generally first treated with medications to stop the seizures, although some kinds of seizures may not need treatment. While many children stop having seizures with their first medication, other seizures are very hard to treat and the child may be on several medications. When medications aren't working well, there are other options such as epilepsy surgery, the vagal nerve stimulator, and the ketogenic diet. Many parents have had success with alternative treatments, such as CBD oil (see CBD for Neurologic Conditions in Children). Always contact your doctor to discuss any treatments you learn about.

How your child’s and family’s life will be changed will depend on the type of seizure, response to treatment, and any associated problems, like developmental delay. Some seizures are easy to treat; your child will be put on medication for a two-year seizure-free interval, then the medication will be slowly stopped, and your child won't have any more seizures. Other seizures may be very hard to treat, requiring several medications, and other treatments such as the ketogenic diet.