How to Cope With Children With Seizures

A seizure is an altered mental state often combined with convulsions. Childhood seizures are common, either as their own condition or as a symptom of another health condition. While many children eventually grow out of their seizure conditions, managing their conditions is essential to preventing complications. To cope with a child who has a seizure condition, you must prevent seizures when you can and guard against collateral damage when your child does have one.

Instructions

• 1

  See your child's doctor for a professional diagnosis. Childhood seizures can also be a symptom of another health condition affecting your child's nervous condition, including trauma or poisoning. A professional diagnosis will rule out any other health conditions before diagnosing childhood seizures. Nearly all types of seizure treatment are prescription only, so your child must have a diagnosed seizure condition to have access to them. You will also need to a professional seizure diagnosis to request special accommodations as needed.

• 2

  Talk to your child's doctor about seizure medication options. Most doctors are reluctant to put a child on a course of seizure medication, especially if the child's seizures are infrequent. This is because seizure medication has such severe side effects. Depending on your health care plan, it can also be very expensive. If your child's doctor has recommended seizure medication, be sure that all the directions are followed. For example, even a small change in seizure medication dosage can cause an unprovoked seizure.

• 3

  Talk to your child and his siblings about his condition. This is often overlooked when coping with childhood seizures. Be sure to explain what the condition is and why it is happening in an age appropriate way. A little information goes a long way in preventing fears and confusion.

• 4

  Avoid stimuli that lead to seizures at all costs. Not all childhood seizures are brought on by certain stimuli, such as flashing lights or certain smells, but those that are can be prevented. While the doctor was diagnosing your child, he tested for common stimuli. However, if you notice that your child has seizures after certain events, you should avoid those events. For example, your child may have seizure frequently after eating certain wheat products. You should avoid wheat in his diet and speak to his doctor about it.

• 5

  Avoid activities where having a seizure would put your child in greater danger than normal. This means swimming or operating certain machinery. The bathroom is a particularly dangerous place to have a seizure because of the possibilities of drowning in a tub or hitting his head on the tile. Do not leave small children alone in the bathroom and consider installing a safety strap for older children. Swimming should only be done in the presence of an adult who has been notified of your child's seizure condition and trained in CPR.