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Seizures, Partial and Generalized, Pediatric

Kristen Park, MD and Kelly G. Knupp, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Seizures arise from abnormal electrical discharges in the cerebral cortex that lead to alterations of consciousness, behavior, motor activity, sensation, or autonomic function. Epile...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Age, family history of seizures, developmental status, birth history

  • Health at seizure onset: febrile, ill, sleep deprivation, trauma, toxins, ingestion, head injury

  • Current medications...

TREATMENT

Seizure first aid 
  • Assess airway and breathing.

  • Turn the patient on their side to allow the tongue to fall forward and saliva to run out.

  • Place nothing in the mouth.

  • Time the event—a convulsive ...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Injuries: Rarely, serious injury occurs with brief seizures from loss of consciousness and resultant falls.

  • Daily precautions: Few restrictions are needed with the excepti...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Arthur TM, deGrauw TJ, Johnson CS, et al. Seizure recurrence risk following a first seizure in neurologically normal children. Epilepsia.  2008;49(11):1950–1954. [View Abstract...

CODES

ICD9

  • 780.39 Other convulsions

  • 345.50 Localization-related (focal) (partial) epilepsy and epileptic syndromes with simple partial seizures, without mention of intractable epilepsy

  • 345.90 Epilepsy, u...

FAQ

  • Q: How do I know if my child has epilepsy?

  • A: The term “epilepsy” is applied to children with two or more seizures without an acute cause or with a single seizure and a significant risk of more sei...

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