Childhood Seizures and Epilepsy Trish Barry McElfresh, PNP Nicolas Krawiecki, MD Tools for Living May 3, 2003

2 Prevalence  2.5 million persons with Epilepsy  70, ,000 new cases annually  third most common neurologic disorder Hauser, WA, Heodorffer, DC, Epilepsy: Frequency, causes and consequences, NY, NY, Demos, 1991:1

3 Incidence & Risk Factors for Epilepsy in Childhood  <10 years old, occurs 4.3/1000  Male = Female  Generalized onset seizures most common seizure type in children <5 years old  Mostly idiopathic no identifiable cause  Risk Factors: Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Febrile Seizures, CNS Infection, Head Trauma  Vaccination is ok, not a risk factor

4 Epilepsy in Children under 15 years Generalized tonic- clonic 19% Seizure typeEtiology Myoclonic 7% Simple focal 11% Complex focal 23% Other focal 7% Unknown/ multiple 9% Absence 13% Other generalized 11% Idiopathic 68% Congenital 20% Trauma 5% Degenerative 1% Infection 4% Neoplastic 2% Vascular 2%

5 Seizure Definition A paroxysmal electrical discharge of neurons in the brain resulting in alternation of function or behavior