Overview

Causes

Sometimes the cause is not known. Other times it may be due to:

  • Health problems like epilepsy
  • Injury or trauma to the head
  • Infections, such as meningitis
  • A brain tumor
  • Stroke
  • Accidental poisoning
  • Certain medical problems, such as:
    • Low blood sugar
    • Very high fever
    • Electrolyte levels that are not in balance
  • Fluid buildup in the brain
  • Diseases or defects that are present at birth

Risk Factors

Things that may raise a child's risk of seizure are:

  • Having had a prior seizure
  • Having a very high fever
  • Having health problems like:
    • Epilepsy
    • Brain tumors
    • Brain infections
  • Having a family history of seizures

SymptomsandDiagnosis

Symptoms

Problems during a seizure may be:

  • Confusion
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Staring, or a dazed look
  • Jerking motions of the limbs or body
  • Problems breathing
  • Eyes rolling back
  • Crying or moaning
  • Vomiting
  • Passing urine (pee)

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done.

Blood tests may be taken. The fluid around the child's spine may also be tested. This can be done with a lumbar puncture.

Pictures may be taken of the child's brain. This can be done with:

  • CT scan
  • MRI scan

The child's brain activity may be tested. This can be done with electroencephalography (EEG).

Treatments

Treatment

Some seizures will not need to be treated. Most children will outgrow seizures caused by fever by about 5 years of age.

Other seizures may stop when the underlying cause is treated. The child may need to stay at a hospital until seizures are controlled. Treatments to help control seizures may include:

Medicine

Antiseizure medicine can reduce the number of seizures or stop them completely. It may be given by IV for severe or frequent seizures. Pills can be given for seizures that happen less often.

Other Treatments

Some seizures may not be helped by medicine. Other treatments may be:

  • Ketogenic diet--A strict diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in fat may help stop some types of seizures.
  • Vagal stimulation--A device implanted just under the skin can send signals to the vagus nerve to interrupt seizure signals.
  • Surgery--Removing the area of brain that is causing seizures may stop them.

Prevention

There are no known ways to prevent seizures.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Edits to original content made by Denver Health.