Neurology - Childhood Epilepsy Flashcards
Defintion
The recurrent tendency to spontaneous intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain, manifesting in seizures
Types of seizures
- Generalised Tonic-Clonic Seizure
- Focal Seizures
- Absence Seizures
- Atonic Seizures
- Myoclonic Seizures
- Infantile Spasms
Generalised Tonic-Clonic Seizures
Signs and symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle tensing (TONIC)
- Muscle jerking (CLONIC)
Typically the tonic phase comes before the clinic phase.
Associated:
- Tongue biting,
- Incontinence
- Groaning and irregular breathing
After the seizure is a prolonged post-ictal period = person is confused, drowsy and feels irritable or low
Treatment:
- FIRST LINE = SODIUM VALPORATE
- SECOND LINE = LAMOTRIGINE or CARBAMAZEPINE
Focal seizure
Start in temporal lobes, affecting:
- hearing
- speech
- memory
- emotions
There are various ways a focal seizure can present:
- Hallucinations
- Memory flashbacks
- Deja vu
- Doing strange things on autopilot
Treatment
- FIRST LINE = LAMOTRIGINE or LEVETIRACETAM
- SECOND LINE = CARBEMAZAPINE
Absent Seizures
Typically seen in children:
- Patient becomes blank
- Stares into space
- Abruptly returns to normal
- During the episode they are unaware of their surroundings and won’t respond
- Typically lasts 10-20 seconds
Treatment
- Most people stop having absent seizures as they get older
- FIRST LINE = ETHOSUXIMADE
- SECOND LIKE =
male: sodium valproate
female: lamotrigine or levetiracetam
Atonic seizures
Also known as drop attacks. Characterised by brief lapses in muscle tone.
- They dont usually last more than 3 minutes
- Typically begin in childhood
- May be indicative of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Treatment
- FIRST LINE = SODIUM VALPORATE
- SECOND LINE = LAMOTRIGINE
Myoclonic Seizures
- Present as sudden brief muscle contractions, like a sudden “jump”.
- The patient usually remains awake during the episode.
- They occur in various forms of epilepsy but typically happen in children as part of juvenile Myoclonic epilepsy.
Treatment:
- FIRST LINE = SODIUM VALPORATE
- Other options = LAMOTRIGINE, LEVETIRACETAM, or TOPIRAMATE
Infantile Spasms
Also known as West Syndrome
Rare (1 in 4000)
Disorder starting in infancy at around 6 months of age
Characterised by clusters of full body spasms
Poor prognosis: 1/3 die by age 25 however 1.3 are seizure free.
Treatment:
It can be difficult to treat but FIRST LINE:
- PREDNISOLONE
- VIGABATRIN
Diagnosis
Good History
- Important to establish that any episodes were seizures, as opposed to vasovagal episodes or febrile convulsions
EEG
- Perform after second simple tonic clonic seizure
- Children are allowed one simple seizure before being investigated for epilepsy
MRI brain
- diagnose structural problems e.g tumours
- should be considered when:
= first seizure is in children under 2
= focal seizure
= there is no response to first line anti-epileptic medications
General advice
Patients and families presenting with seizures need to be given advice about safety precautions, recognising, managing and reporting further seizures. It is important to avoid situations where a seizure may put the child in danger, with advise to:
- Take showers rather than baths
- Be very cautious with swimming unless seizures are well controlled and they are closely supervised
- Be cautious with heights
- Be cautious with traffic
- Be cautious with any heavy, hot or electrical equipment
- Teenagers avoid driving unless meet specific criteria
Sodium Valporate Side Effects
Teratogenic = careful about contraception
Liver damage + hepatitis
Hair loss
Tremor
Carbamazepine Side Effects
Agranulocytosis
Aplastic anaemia
Induces the P450 system so there are many drug interactions
Phenytoin Side Effects
Folate and vitamin D deficiency
Megaloblastic anaemia (folate deficiency)
Osteomalacia (vitamin D deficiency)
Ethosuximide Side Effects
Night terrors
Rashes
Lamotrigine Side Effects
Stevens-Johnson syndrome or DRESS syndrome. These are life threatening skin rashes.
Leukopenia