Paediatric Epilepsy Treatment in London

Why Choose Dementech For Paediatric Epilepsy Treatment?

What is Paediatric Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a relatively common condition that affects the brain. Bursts of electrical activity in the brain cause repeated seizures that can come in a number of different forms. Epilepsy typically affects people over 60, or begins in childhood. It is a lifelong condition, but with appropriate symptom management, does not always have an impact on a person’s day to day life.

Epilepsy in children can be confusing and worrying for the child, but also for parents - especially if they are not aware of the possible symptoms of a seizure. At Dementech, we strive to provide you with peace of mind, giving you all the necessary information to help you manage your child’s condition to the best of your ability. In order to do this, we must first understand as much as we can about what is causing your child’s epilepsy and how to avoid these triggers.

After an initial consultation with us, we will typically recommend undergoing a number of tests which should help to determine what is causing your child’s epilepsy. From there, our specialists will work to create a bespoke treatment plan to give your child the best chance of living a life not impacted by frequent seizures.

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Understanding Paediatric Epilepsy Seizures

It’s important to note that having just one seizure doesn’t always indicate epilepsy. Some people who have one seizure may never have another seizure again. Other conditions such as fever, diabetes, heart conditions and alcohol withdrawal can also cause seizures.

Seizures usually last 1 to 3 minutes. If someone has a seizure that lasts for more than 5 minutes, call an ambulance immediately.

Seizures can cause symptoms such as:

There are many different types of seizures, with some being more common in children than others. If you would like more information about a specific type of seizure, you can always contact our experienced team.

Absence seizures

Absence seizures are most common in children, but have been known to affect people of all ages. During these seizures, the person will lose awareness of their surroundings for up to 15 seconds. These seizures can happen several times a day, and the person will have no memory of the event afterwards. They may stare into space, make small, jerking movements, or slightly flutter their eyes during the seizure.

Focal seizures

Focal seizures can be simple partial seizures (or 'auras') or complex partial seizures. These seizures begin in one part of the brain and will affect the part of the body that is controlled by that area.

Simple partial seizures typically involve:

Complex partial seizures typically involve:

Tonic-clonic seizures

Tonic-clonic seizures are the most recognised type of seizure. In the majority of cases, the seizure will begin with a sudden loss of consciousness. This is called the ‘tonic’ stage. Then, the body becomes stiff and muscles start to jerk, which is known as the ‘clonic’ stage. It is also common for some people to turn blue, lose control of their bladder and bite their tongue.

After regaining consciousness, the person may feel drowsy and confused. It is also common to have some memory loss and a headache. Agitation can also occur while regaining consciousness.

Febrile convulsions

Febrile convulsions are different to epileptic seizures. They occur in children up to the age of 6 years. The seizures are generally harmless and associated with an illness causing fever, such as a viral infection.

Although frightening, these seizures are usually harmless and almost all children make a complete recovery afterwards. A febrile seizure usually lasts for less than 5 minutes. Signs of a febrile convulsion may include:

Common Symptoms of Seizures

The specific type of seizure, which may include some of those listed above, will have an impact on the kinds of symptoms your child experiences when having a seizure. However, it can be useful as a parent to be aware of some of the more general warning signs of a seizure. These can include:

In certain cases, symptoms of a seizure may be similar to those of other health conditions. This can make paediatric epilepsy difficult to diagnose, especially if there is no clear record of the frequency of the seizures of the symptoms that are present. It’s important to ensure your child is seen for a professional diagnosis.

Paediatric Epilepsy Causes & Diagnosis

A seizure can be caused by a number of different things, and also by combinations of these factors. However in the majority of cases, the direct cause of a seizure is not found. Some possible causes of childhood seizures may include:

At Dementech, our experienced team have been responsible for diagnosing epilepsy for hundreds of patients, and have been able to identify causes to help them manage their seizures more effectively. Don’t hesitate to contact our epilepsy specialists if you would like bespoke support with the management of your child’s epilepsy symptoms.

In order to determine what may be causing your child to have epilepsy and experience seizures, our experts generally conduct a series of tests. The patient may be required to undergo some of the following:

Our experienced epilepsy specialists are always happy to provide support to both you and your child if there are any concerns around the types of tests they will be undergoing. We understand that to have a medical diagnosis at a young age can be difficult, which is why we ensure that you have a dedicated specialist across the course of the treatment journey.

Management of Epilepsy in Children at Dementech

Of course, the types of treatments that are offered to children with epilepsy will vary depending on the frequency and severity of the seizures they are experiencing. In the majority of cases however, medicines can be used to help manage the symptoms of these seizures.

As well as being chosen specifically for the type of seizure, medicines are also selected based on the age of the child, the potential side effects and ease of use. Generally, medicines that can be prescribed to children with epilepsy can be taken orally, as capsules, tablets or a syrup. There are other alternatives in terms of how the medicine can be administered, but please speak to our experts directly for more information about what may be offered to you.

Helping Your Child Live with Epilepsy

As a parent it can be difficult to know how to help your child manage their epilepsy, but here at Dementech our experts can provide you with the support you need. Being able to manage the symptoms of seizures, both mild and severe, comes from having a good understanding of the condition, its risks and the required medications. It’s also important to know that your child may not need medication for life - you may notice significant improvements in terms of the frequency of the seizures, in which case a healthcare professional may advise that medicine is no longer needed.

Regular visits to professional healthcare providers as well as regular testing are also key when managing paediatric epilepsy. You should also make sure that if the child is of an age where they can begin to understand their condition, that they are aware of the risks and any triggers they should avoid. You can also help your child in avoiding these triggers, for example by making sure they are sleeping well.

Depending on the age of your child you must also be responsible for ensuring their medicines are administered on time, as recommended by your healthcare professional. Some medications will be given in different doses, at different times of day and may also have different side effects. Making sure both you and your child are fully aware of this and that medicines are given exactly as directed is vital to ensure proper treatment.

Please note that you should also speak to a paediatric epilepsy expert before giving your child medications for other conditions, as some may react to or cause difficulty with medicines given for seizures.

Understanding Risk

Having a seizure does not mean that you have epilepsy. A seizure can have different causes and people may only have a one-off seizure. However, it is still important to see a specialist neurologist to find the cause of the seizure, whether this is for yourself or a child.

Please note the instances below where it is important to see a doctor:

You may also need to speak to a professional if your child is having particular side effects from any prescribed medicines, or if their seizures seem to be worsening over time.

Meet Our Doctors

Our team of paediatric epilepsy experts in London provide expert care to diagnose, manage and treat epilepsy symptoms.

Dr Tahira Choudry – Consultant Neurologist

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Movement Disorders

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Dr. Maria Papachatzaki – Consultant Neurologist, MS Specialist

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FAQs About Paediatric Epilepsy