children s health issues
Seizures in Children
Introduction
Seizures are a periodic disturbance of the brain’s electrical activity, resulting in some degree of temporary brain dysfunction. When older infants or young children have seizures, they often have typical symptoms, such as shaking or jerking of part or all of the body, but newborns may only smack their lips, chew involuntarily, or periodically go limp. Electroencephalography (EEG) is used to diagnose the disorder, and blood and urine tests, brain imaging, and sometimes a spinal tap are done to try to identify the cause. When a child has a convulsion, parents or other caregivers should try to protect the child from harm—for example, by keeping the child away from stairs, sharp objects, and other potential hazards. They should not put anything in the child’s mouth and should not try to hold the child’s tongue. Treatment is focused mainly on the cause, but if seizures continue after the cause is treated, children are given antiseizure medications. Seizuresare an abnormal, unregulated electrical discharge of nerve cells in the brain or in part of the brain. This abnormal discharge can cause Convulsions Involuntary movements Altered awareness Abnormal sensations Convulsionsare violent, involuntary, jerking and/or stiffening of muscles in a large part of the body. Epilepsyis not a specific disorder but refers to a tendency to have recurring seizures that may or may not have an identifiable cause. Seizures in children are often similar to Seizure Disorders . However, some types of seizures, such as Certain conditions in children, such as Breath-Holding Spells and 