Chidren With Severe Seizure Disorders

Children who suffer from seizure disorders are capable of living the life of a normal child performing daily activities. Some children suffer severe seizure disorders and require significant supervision by a caregiver. These children are unable to function the same way that a normal child would. Treatment and severity of a seizure depends on what the cause is and what type of seizure disorder the child has.

Types

• According to Frank L. Christopher, MD and Robert R. Westermeyer, MD, "Around 3 percent of all children have a seizure when younger than 15 years, half of which are febrile seizures (seizure brought on by a fever)." A seizure that appears within the first 28 days of birth is known as a neonatal seizure. Partial seizures, generalized seizures, status epilepticus and epilepsy are also familiar seizure disorders.

Causes

• A number of factors may cause the onset of a seizure. These include infection, fever, brain bleeds, medication and poison. Some illnesses may mimic symptoms of seizure disorders such as muscle spasms. Muscle spasms involuntarily contract the muscles in the body in a somewhat uncontrollable manner, much like a person dealing with seizures would do. If you suspect that your child is having seizures, you should arrange to have him seen by a neurologist.

Considerations

• The amount of care that a child with severe seizures will need is based on whether or not her seizure spells are frequent or infrequent, what causes the spells, and how long they last. If a child suffers from seizures due to a developmental disorder, such as cerebral palsy, she will most likely need constant care and supervision provided by a responsible caretaker.

Warning

• You will have to make arrangements to care for your child throughout all hours of the day and night if he is diagnosed with a severe seizure disorder. Children who have severe seizures may have seizures more than once a day or the seizures may last for more than 30 minutes at a time. Seizures can sometimes cause confusion, which can be very scary for a child.

Safety

• If your child has seizures, make sure your home is safety proofed to avoid any head injuries, as it is possible for your child to fall and hit her head during a seizure. Provide an open floor space that is cushioned with no sharp edges.