For some children, untreated seizures can get worse over time and may affect learning, development, or behavior. Most children can get complete seizure control by taking the medicine. About 60% of children outgrow absence seizures in their teens, especially if medicine has worked well to control their seizures.
Full Answer
What can I do if my child has seizures?
If your child is in the hospital with seizures, medicine may be given by injection or intravenously by vein (IV). It is important to give your child medicine on time and as prescribed. The dose may need to be adjusted for the best seizure control.
Can a child have 2 seizures with no known cause?
But when a child has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy. There are different types of seizures. The type of seizure depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected and what happens during the seizure.
Can a child outgrow an absence seizure?
Many children outgrow absence seizures in their teens, especially if the seizures started when they were younger than 8 years old. How Can Parents Help? Your doctor will help you create a plan for your child and talk to you about:
What are seizures and how are they treated?
Seizures range from benign to life-threatening, and while some resolve rapidly, others progress to status epilepticus requiring airway and circulatory management. 1
Do all children with epilepsy need medication?
About 75 percent of young children with epilepsy can control their seizures by using one or more anticonvulsant medications. Unfortunately, however, a significant number of children will continue to have several seizures per day, even when they are using medication.
What happens if you don't treat a seizure?
If seizures can't be stopped or repeated seizures occur one right after another, permanent injury or death can occur. People with epilepsy can also die from problems that occur during or after a seizure, such as inhaling vomit.
Can you live without seizure medication?
Most people with well-controlled seizures would like to stop taking their seizure medicines. In some cases, this can be done with the supervision of your doctor. You have the best chance of remaining seizure-free without medication if: You had few seizures before you started taking seizure medicine.
Why are patients with epilepsy not getting treatment?
Among the most common reasons for treatment not being offered in this cohort were the presence of seizure precipitating factors (eg, flashing lights), presentation after a single seizure, and waiting for additional tests, while concerns about the need for treatment, presence of seizure precipitating factors, and ...
Can brain damage from seizures be reversed?
Most often it is not possible to reverse the damage caused to brain tissue by trauma but receiving prompt medical care may make it possible for medical providers to stabilize a person's brain injury and help to prevent further injury.
Can uncontrolled seizures cause brain damage?
Most types of seizures do not cause damage to the brain. However, having a prolonged, uncontrolled seizure can cause harm. Because of this, treat any seizure lasting over 5 minutes as a medical emergency.
Can seizures be cured permanently?
There's currently no cure for epilepsy, but it can be managed with medications and other strategies.
Do seizures go away with age?
Some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, but for others, the seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.
How long is the average lifespan of a person with epilepsy?
On average, people with epilepsy live 10–12 years less than those who do not have the condition. Summary: On average, people with epilepsy live 10-12 years fewer than those who do not have the condition. Excess mortality is particularly pronounced among people with epilepsy and mental disorders.
What are 3 causes of epilepsy?
Causes of epilepsya stroke.a brain tumour.a severe head injury.drug abuse or alcohol misuse.a brain infection.a lack of oxygen during birth.
Can seizures go away on their own?
But most seizures aren't an emergency. They stop on their own with no permanent ill effects. There isn't much you can do to stop a seizure once it starts. But there are simple steps you can take to protect someone from harm during a seizure.
Does epilepsy get worse with age?
The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.
Are They Common?
What Do They Look like?
How Are They recognized?
How Are non-epileptic Seizures Diagnosed?
Medical Tests
Can They Be Treated?
Treatment Options
Medication
Other Forms of Treatment
- Psychotherapy is the most commonly recommended treatment for NES. Psychotherapy is the name for a form of therapy which involves counseling rather than medication. Mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists, are trained in different forms of psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often recommended for NES. ...