seizures in children, dr.amit vatkar, pediatric neurologist
TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Amit VatkarMBBS, DCH, DNB Pediatrics
Fellow in Pediatric Neurology, MumbaiTrained in Neurophysiology & Epilepsy, USA
Contact No. : +91-8767844488Email: [email protected]
Diagnosis & Treatment
of Pediatric Epilepsy
Ayurveda and epilepsy
• APASMARA/ APASMRITI
• 4 Types –– Vata
– Pitta
– Kapha
– Sannipata
• Caraka Samhita- 1000- 800 BC– Nidana Sthana (Diagnosis)
– Chikitsha Sthana (Treatment)
DefinitionsSeizure
Acute clinical change due to an abnormal neuronal discharge
Epilepsy
Two or more unprovoked seizures more than 24 hrs apart – epileptic tendency
One Seizure with abnormal Neurological Examination Or EEG Or MRI
Situation related
Seizures provoked by illness / metabolic disturbance / toxic event, does not denote epileptic tendency
How do children differ?
• 70% of epilepsy starts in childhood
• Age related seizures eg. Infantile spasms, febrile seizures
• Status epilepticus is common
• Generalized seizures common
• Effects on brain development
• Drugs – dosage, side effects
• High rate of spontaneous remission
Clinical Presentation
Events That Mimic Seizures
Apnea
Breath Holding
Dizziness
Myoclonus
Pseudoseizures
Psychogenic Seizures
Rigors
Shuddering
Syncope
Tics
Transient Ischemic Attacks
Seizure precipitants
• Stress, emotion
• Sleep/sleep deprivation
• Hyperventilation
• Fever
• Medications, metabolic disturbance
• Reflex epilepsy
– Photic stimuli: TV, flashing lights, visual patterns
– Startle, music, reading, eating
First Unprovoked Seizure:
Diagnostic Testing
Laboratory tests are based on individual clinical circumstances and may include: CBC with differential
Blood glucose
Electrolytes
Calcium, magnesium, phosphorous
Urine drug/toxicology screen
Urine HCG (age dependent)
Lumbar puncture is only indicated if there are other symptoms that suggest a diagnosis of meningitis.
First Unprovoked Seizure:
Diagnostic Testing – MRI
Outpatient MRI should be considered for: Children under 1 year of age
All children with significant acute cognitive or motor impairment
Unexplained abnormalities on neurologic exam
Seizure of focal onset without generalization
Abnormal EEG
Abnormalities on MRI are seen in up to 1/3rd of children However, most abnormalities do not influence immediate
treatment or management (such as need for hospitalization)
First Unprovoked Seizure:
Diagnostic Testing – EEG
Obtain on ALL children in whom a nonfebrile seizure has been diagnosed
Can be arranged as an outpatient
Should be interpreted by a neurologist (preferably pediatric neurologist)
EEG results will: Help predict the risk of recurrence
Classify the seizure type or epilepsysyndrome
Influence the decision to perform additional neuroimaging studies
Overall Recurrence Risk
• 42% recurrence
• Mean time to recurrence 11.3 months
– 36% in first month
– 53% in 6 months
– 88% in 2 years
Why do we treat?
• Reduce recurrence risk
• Prevent prolonged seizures
• Minimize impact on development/academic achievement
• Does NOT affect natural history
– if you are going to outgrow it, you will regardless of treatment
Treatment?
• Every child/family is different
– Treatment may reduce recurrence risk by as much as 50%.
– AED’s are toxic medications!
• For the most part we do not treat after a first time seizure.
• The one exception- Remote symptomatic presenting in status.
Treatment options
• Daily anti-epileptic drugs (AED’s)
• Abortive medications
• Specialized diets
• Surgery
– Resective
– Devices, ie Vagal nerve stimulator
No seizures and No side effects!
First vs Second generation
• First generation
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Ethosuxamide (Zarontin)
• Valproate(Depakote,Depakene)
• Benzodiazepines
– Lorazepam (Ativan)
– Midazolam (Versed)
– Diazepam (Valium)
– Clonazepam (Klonipin)
– Chlorazepate (Tranxene)
• Second generation
• Ox-carbazepine (Trileptal)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Topiramate (Topamax)
• Levetiracetam (Keppra)
• Zonisamide (Zonegran)
• Pregabalin (Lyrica)
• Lacosamide (Vimpat)
Side Effects• Phenobarbital-sedation
• Valproate-weight gain, liver toxicity, decreased platelets, pancreatitis
• Sodium abnormalities-ox-carbazepine
• Lamotrigine-Steven’s Johnson syndrome
• Topiramate-weight loss, language dysfunction, kidney stones, glaucoma
• Levetiracetam-irritability,agitation
Long Term Follow-up
• 37 year f/u of 144 patients
• 31% enter remission in first year of Rx
• 19% are resistant from the beginning
• Overall 67% achieve terminal remission
– 14% on AED’s
– 86% off AED’s
Lesional epilepsy
• Complete resection of lesion AND electrographically abnormal region
• 92% have good outcome
• sz free or >90% reduction
• Electrographically abnormal region
• Electrocortiography
• Chronic subdural grid recordings
THANK YOU
Dr. Amit VatkarPediatric Neurologist, Navi Mumbai
MBBS, DNB
Email: [email protected] No.: +91-8767844488
Visit us at: http://pediatricneurology.in/
THANK YOU !