Epilepsy is a disease characterized by involuntary movements in body parts and/or changes in consciousness resulting from excessive, abnormal, and inappropriate discharge of brain cells. When epilepsy or, as it is popularly known, epilepsy is mentioned, people who have lost consciousness, have foam in their mouth, clenched teeth, and repetitive contractions come to mind. However, seizures can also be seen without loss of consciousness, only with twitching at the corner of the mouth or just blinking of the eyelids. Another type of seizure that we see especially in school-age children is absence (staring) seizures, in which awareness is impaired, only blank staring or dazing is seen, and there are no other accompanying findings.
Epilepsy can have many different causes. Brain damage that develops during pregnancy or childbirth, head trauma, brain tumors, strokes can cause epilepsy, as well as familial genetic-origin epilepsies. In a significant portion of cases, the underlying cause cannot be determined despite detailed examinations.
The most important criterion in the diagnosis of epilepsy is that clinical findings support epilepsy. Although clinical findings are mostly tried to be understood by the parents' description of the event they witnessed, recording the event with cell phones or similar electronic devices is very important in making the diagnosis of epilepsy. In addition, electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evaluations for investigating metabolic and genetic diseases according to the age group of our patients should be performed for diagnostic purposes and to identify the underlying cause.
In childhood epilepsies, success rates in treatment with anti-epileptic drugs determined according to the patient's age, gender, seizure type, and EEG findings, as deemed appropriate by the pediatric neurologist, are quite high. The medications should be used regularly at the recommended times and doses. Another factor as effective as epilepsy medications in treatment is a regular lifestyle. Adequate fluid intake, regular sleep and nutrition are necessary. In some epilepsy patients, electronic devices such as television, phone, tablet and computer can trigger seizures. Keeping screen time limited contributes to seizure control. Excessive heat and intense sunlight exposure also make seizure control difficult. During summer months, staying in cool and shady environments between 11:00-16:00 will be beneficial in keeping seizures under control.
