Neurology - Childhood Epilepsy Flashcards

1
Q

Defintion

A

The recurrent tendency to spontaneous intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain, manifesting in seizures

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2
Q

Types of seizures

A
  • Generalised Tonic-Clonic Seizure
  • Focal Seizures
  • Absence Seizures
  • Atonic Seizures
  • Myoclonic Seizures
  • Infantile Spasms
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3
Q

Generalised Tonic-Clonic Seizures

A

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

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4
Q

Focal seizure

A

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

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5
Q

Absent Seizures

A

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

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6
Q

Atonic seizures

A

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

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7
Q

Myoclonic Seizures

A
  • 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

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8
Q

Infantile Spasms

A

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

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9
Q

Diagnosis

A

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

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10
Q

General advice

A

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

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11
Q

Sodium Valporate Side Effects

A

Teratogenic = careful about contraception
Liver damage + hepatitis
Hair loss
Tremor

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12
Q

Carbamazepine Side Effects

A

Agranulocytosis
Aplastic anaemia
Induces the P450 system so there are many drug interactions

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13
Q

Phenytoin Side Effects

A

Folate and vitamin D deficiency
Megaloblastic anaemia (folate deficiency)
Osteomalacia (vitamin D deficiency)

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14
Q

Ethosuximide Side Effects

A

Night terrors
Rashes

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15
Q

Lamotrigine Side Effects

A

Stevens-Johnson syndrome or DRESS syndrome. These are life threatening skin rashes.
Leukopenia

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16
Q

Management of Seizures

A
  • Put the patient in a safe position (e.g. on a carpeted floor)
  • Place in the recovery position if possible
  • Put something soft under their head to protect against head injury
  • Remove obstacles that could lead to injury
  • Make a note of the time at the start and end of the seizure
  • Call an ambulance if lasting more than 5 minutes or this is their first seizure.
17
Q

Status Epilepticus

A

It is defined as a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or 2 or more seizures without regaining consciousness in the interim.

Treatment:
- ABCDE = Secure the airway
- Give high-concentration oxygen
- Assess cardiac and respiratory function
- Check blood glucose levels
- Gain intravenous access (insert a cannula)
- IV lorazepam, repeated after 10 minutes if the seizure continues
- If the seizures persist the final step is an infusion of IV phenobarbital or phenytoin.
- At this point intubation and ventilation to secure the airway needs to be considered, along with transfer to the intensive care unit if appropriate.

Medical options in the community:
- Buccal midazolam
- Rectal diazepam