Epilepsy In Children

Question 1

What is an infantile spasm?

Answer 1

Also known as wests syndrome
Brief spasms beginning in the first few (4-6) months of life
Males more likely to have it than females

1) You get flexion of the head, trunk and limbs but extension of the arms (salaam attack), lasts 1-2 seconds and repeats up to 50 times

Question 2

What is the prognosis for infantile spasms?

Answer 2

It is poor with most children experiencing progressive mental handicap

Question 3

What would you see on EEG of someone with infantile spasms?

Answer 3

Hypsarrythmia

Question 4

How do you treat west syndrome (infantile spasms)?

Answer 4

Vigabatrin/steroids

Question 5

When does a petit mal (absence seizure) present and what does it present like?

Answer 5

4-8 years

Duration is few-30 seconds, there is no warning, quick recovery, often many per day

Question 6

What is seen on the EEG with absence seizures?

Answer 6

3Hz, generalized, symmetrical

Question 7

How do you treat absence seizures?

Answer 7

Ethosuximide

Sodium valproate

Question 8

What would you see on the EEG with Lennox- Gaustaut syndrome?

Answer 8

A slow spike

Question 9

What would you get in Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?

Answer 9

This is a combination of 1

1) infrequent generalized seizures, often in the morning and following sleep deprivation
2) daytime abscences
3) sudden, shock like myoclonic seizures