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Paediatric Epilepsy

Paediatric Epilepsy Treatment in London

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain, causing repeated seizures – these are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that affects how it functions temporarily. Having a seizure does not mean that you have epilepsy. A seizure can have different causes and you may only have a one-off seizure. However, it is still important to see a specialist neurologist to find the cause of the seizure.

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain, causing repeated seizures – these are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that affects how it functions temporarily. Having a seizure does not mean that you have epilepsy. A seizure can have different causes and you may only have a one-off seizure. However, it is still important to see a specialist neurologist to find the cause of the seizure.

As a parent, paediatric epilepsy can be difficult to understand and challenging to manage. Signs of epilepsy in children can vary, and in some cases can be worrying for parents. Our specialists have decades of experience in the understanding and management of epilepsy in children, and will be able to support you as you come to terms with the available treatment options, and how your child may be affected in the future.

Why Choose Dementech For Paediatric Epilepsy Treatment?

  • Home to the UK’s leading paediatric neurology and epilepsy specialists
  • Result from any required tests or scans are available in 48 hours
  • Same week consultations and assessments
  • Prices starting at £485
  • Patient Advisors provide unique treatment plans and advice following your consultation
  • Ongoing support for patients and their families
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Paediatric Neurology

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.

Our Happy Patients

I have been pleased with the excellent service I have received to date: discreet, compassionate and very helpful in every aspect. All my concerns were listened to carefully, my questions answered accurately and relevant documentation sent/ received efficiently. The practice manager Ms S Butt could not have been more helpful and considerate. This encouraged me to have confidence in the staff and the Consultancy with the most important person in my life and I look forward to the Consultation and the results thereof.Anonymous
The clinic is very welcoming. I would especially like to thank Shakeela and Sobia who took good care of us and made sure my father in law was comfortable as he was very nervous. They were very polite. Dr was excellent. I would recommend this clinic. My father in law was very nervous when he arrived in the clinic but he left with a smile. This explains it all about the clinic. How wonderful they are. Thanks againAnonymous

Same Week Consultations

At Dementech Neurosciences we endeavour to see you on the same week if possible. You no longer have to wait to be seen by a specialist. With your consent, our private neurologists can also share your full consultation report with your GP.

Patient Advisor Consultations

This is an opportunity to discuss your condition, and for the Patient Advisor to suggest the most appropriate treatment route to suit your specific needs.

Prices Starting at £485

Prices for an hour-long consultation start at £485. Each follow up appointment will cost £285. We always maintain full transparency about our costs.

Video Consultations Available

If you can’t make it to our clinic, we offer video consultations on FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Skype. We believe healthcare should be accessible, and make sure to facilitate consultations from anywhere.

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:

  • A loss of consciousness
  • Uncontrollable jerking movements (convulsions)
  • Strange feelings, sensations and behaviours

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:

  • Unusual sensations or behaviours such as strange smells or tastes
  • A strange, rising feeling in the stomach
  • Intense emotional feelings
  • Tingling feelings in the arms and legs

Complex partial seizures typically involve:

  • Random body movements
  • General lack of awareness
  • Making strange noises

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:

  • The body becoming stiff
  • Twitching of the arms and legs
  • A loss of consciousness
  • A loss of bowel control
  • Vomiting or foaming at the mouth
  • Eyes rolling backwards
Epilepsy absence seizure

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:

  • Jerking movements of the arms and legs or stiffening of the body
  • Loss of consciousness, bowel or bladder control
  • Breathing problems
  • Falling suddenly
  • Being unresponsive to noise for brief periods
  • Seeming confused
  • A bluish tinge to the lips
  • Rapid eye blinking or staring
  • Feeling sleepy after the event

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:

  • An imbalance of nerve-signalling brain chemicals (neurotransmitters)
  • A brain tumour or a stroke
  • Brain damages from any illness or injury

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:

  • A neurological exam
  • MRI or CT scans for imaging tests of the brain
  • Blood tests to check for general blood levels, as well as any problems with blood sugar levels
  • Electroencephalogram (used to test electrical activity in the brain)
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap), to measure the pressure in the brain

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.

Epilepsy teenage male
Epilepsy childhood

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:

  • If this is the first seizure
  • If there are repeated seizures
  • If seizures occur more often than usual
  • If you are unsure whether it was a seizure
  • If you are pregnant
  • If you have diabetes
  • If you are injured

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.

Get Paediatric Epilepsy Support Today

Meet Our Doctors

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

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Dr Tahira Choudry – Consultant Neurologist

Epilepsy

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Dr. Maria Papachatzaki – Consultant Neurologist, MS Specialist

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Multiple Sclerosis

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FAQs About Paediatric Epilepsy

I’m claustrophobic. Is there an MRI scan alternative?

Yes, many people who struggle with small spaces have the option to have an open or upright MRI scan.

Will I get a copy of my results?

Yes, if you would like to see your results after any test or assessment, we can provide the details for you. Feel free to ask for a copy of your test results or a CD of your MRI scan if applicable.

How quickly can I be seen?

We aim to see patients in the same week of their enquiry wherever possible.

Can you arrange tests?

Yes, depending on what is most suitable for you and your condition, we can arrange for tests and scans to be scheduled before or after your consultation.

What does the consultation entail?

During a consultation we will carry out an assessment and go through your medical history with a view to getting a diagnosis. From there, you will receive a treatment plan and a full consultation report.

Do you offer video calls?

Yes. If you cannot make it to the clinic, we can video call you on Skype, FaceTime, or WhatsApp.

If I am seen privately, will I be removed from the NHS waiting list?

No, receiving care at Dementech will not impact your NHS care. You are still welcome to seek guidance and treatment from the NHS if you wish to.

Do you provide finance?

No, we do not offer finance payment plans at present.

How quickly can we get an MRI, blood test, and other testing done?

We carry out tests within two days of them being requested, and we will get the results back within 48 hours.

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