According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 45,000 children under the age of 15 develop epilepsy each year. While many of these cases have unknown causes, some of the most common include fever, head injury, infections of the brain and disorders affecting brain development. To properly treat epilepsy in children, the condition must be properly diagnosed. A variety of methods are used to accomplish this.
Step 1
Keep a history. According to Dr. James Wheless of Epilepsy.com, keeping an accurate and detailed history of every seizure-like episode your child has is one of the most important tools a doctor has when making a diagnosis. Include information such as whether your child was awake or asleep when it occurred, if she was taking any medication, if she had a fever, if there were any warning signs and if the child has memory of the episode.
Step 2
Record it. If at all possible, video tape the episodes when they occur. There are a variety of seizure types; watching your child as he is having his seizure will give your doctor greater insight into the type he suffers from. Watching the actual episode gives your doctor the opportunity to see whether or not your child loses consciousness, suffers from jerking movements or full-blown, violent convulsions, and how long the episode lasts for. This information is vital for an accurate diagnosis.
Step 3
Undergo lab tests. According to the health experts at Health-Cares.net, routine lab tests may be ordered initially to rule out various medical conditions that may be an underlying cause of the seizures. A CBC (complete blood count) can detect infections, electrolyte imbalances or malfunctions of the kidney and liver.
More in-depth tests, such as a spinal tap, can be used to detect meningitis and encephalitis, both of which can result in epileptic episodes. In the cases of older children, toxicology tests may be run to detect the use of illegal drugs or alcohol.
Step 4
Undergo an EEG. Seizures are a result of electrical disturbances in the brain's waves; an EEG (electroencephalogram) is a test that records a patient's brain activity. Electrodes are placed onto the scalp in various locations, held in place with an adhesive. If performed on an outpatient basis, the test can take between one and two hours.
In some cases, the doctor may order a sleep-deprived EEG. This type of test can give more accurate results because in many cases, fatigue causes seizures. To prepare for this exam, limit your child's sleep to approximately four hours in the 24 hours preceding the exam; this allows her to sleep during the recording.
Step 5
Undergo picture imaging. To further determine the cause and locate the specific area of the brain where the seizures are taking place, your child may need to undergo picture imaging. This can include either a CT (computed tomography) scan, or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These scans can also show the doctor if there is any structural damage, scar tissue or tumors that may be causing your child's epilepsy.
Things You'll Need
- Journal
- Video camera
