[Epileptic seizures in childhood: from seizure type to diagnosis]

Arch Pediatr. 2008 Feb;15(2):216-22. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2007.11.007. Epub 2008 Jan 14.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Epileptic seizures can be difficult to recognize in infancy and childhood because the semeiology can be misleading. Already, in the acute phase, precise assessment of the seizure is required, with active questioning about circumstances of occurrence, clinical manifestations and postictal symptoms. Laboratory tests and toxicologic screening should only be performed according to the circumstances and clinical examination in order to distinguish between symptomatic seizure and epilepsy at the beginning. Epilepsy consists in repetition of several unprovoked epileptic seizure. Assessment of the age of onset, type of seizures, interictal EEG and the neuropsychological profile are instrumental for both the diagnosis of epileptic syndrome and the choice of the right treatment. Epileptic seizures cause distress to parents and the fear they experience of death must always be taken into account.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsies, Partial / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy, Absence / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / diagnosis
  • Seizures / diagnosis*
  • Seizures / drug therapy
  • Spasms, Infantile / diagnosis
  • Spasms, Infantile / drug therapy
  • Vigabatrin / administration & dosage
  • Vigabatrin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Vigabatrin