Abdominal Epilepsy in Children

Children are the primary group affected by abdominal epilepsy, although the disease may be present in adults as well. This condition, which is similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome in its primary abdominal discomfort, is also characterized by seizure activity in the brain. However, the rareness of the disease makes the causes and diagnoses difficult for medical professionals to discern.

Definition

• Abdominal epilepsy is a disorder characterized by severe gastrointestinal distress and accompanied by findings consistent with seizure activity on an ectroencephalo-gram (EEG). Though the disease is primarily associated with children, it is found in adults as well.

Symptoms

• The primary symptom of abdominal epilepsy is severe abdominal pain. This manifests in sharp pains or extreme cramps and lasts anywhere from several seconds to several minutes. Commonly, nausea or vomiting accompany the abdominal pain. Another symptom is the presence of generalized convulsions or seizures that may result in confusion, blurring of vision, vertigo or general unresponsiveness. Following the seizures that bring on the abdominal pain, additional symptoms of fatigue may result. In children, it is common for the pain to followed by fear and crying, due to the enormity of the discomfort. Symptoms can change depending upon the individual child, and the symptoms they experience during one episode of abdominal epilepsy may not be present during the next episode.

Auras

• An aura, or a mild seizure that precedes the main seizure, is common in many types of epilepsy, including abdominal epilepsy. Auras serve as a warning for the main seizure, and in children who experience abdominal epilepsy, auras are present primarily in the form of a gastric disturbance that feels like it is working up the chest. Children may be unable to comprehend or explain this discomfort, other than stating that they do not feel good. However, the aura state is generally followed by acute stages of abdominal discomfort and the more severe stages of abdominal epilepsy, as described above.

Causes and Diagnosis

• Unfortunately, there is not a consensus on what causes abdominal epilepsy or where the catalysts occurs. There does need to be the presence of seizure activity in the brain during an EEG for a diagnosis to take place. However, because the disease is so rare, there have not been any studies proving conclusively that the seizure in the brain is what causes the disorder, or if there is an abdominal source to the seizure. A complete diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy may not be given until after treatment. Following EEG activity, children are often given drugs to control seizures, and if their symptoms are found responsive, a diagnosis is often given.

Treatment

• Like other forms of epilepsy, abdominal epilepsy symptoms are treated through the administration of anticonvulsant, or antiepileptic, medications. Prescription of the anticonvulsant reduces the discomfort and pain of the abdominal pain.