Best treatment time for childhood epilepsy

Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on May 01, 2025
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The best time to treat pediatric epilepsy is as early as possible; the earlier the child's condition is discovered, the better the treatment outcome will be. Especially when the child has their first seizure, such as with febrile convulsions or afebrile convulsions, if epilepsy appears for the first time, it is crucial to promptly check the child with a head CT scan or MRI and an electroencephalogram (EEG). If a specific cause is identified, treatment should be tailored to the child's specific condition. It is essential to bring the child to the hospital for a thorough examination as soon as possible, ensure a timely diagnosis, and administer medications promptly, as this is critically important for the child's future prognosis.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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Can epilepsy patients drink water frequently in their daily life?

Patients with epilepsy can often drink water in their daily lives, but they should pay attention to the amount of water they drink and not consume too much at once. Drinking too much water in a short period can lead to increased urination, and an increase in the frequency of urination could potentially trigger a seizure. Additionally, patients should try to reduce their water intake during a seizure episode. Drinking water during a seizure can easily cause choking or even suffocation. Therefore, patients with epilepsy need to pay attention to adjusting their diet and lifestyle. Moreover, patients need to take long-term medication to prevent seizures, including commonly used drugs such as carbamazepine and sodium valproate. In hot weather, patients with epilepsy still need to hydrate appropriately; otherwise, dehydration and low blood pressure can occur, which can also easily trigger a seizure.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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What causes epilepsy in children?

The causes of epilepsy in children primarily include congenital factors and acquired factors. Congenital factors are mainly due to premature birth, difficult labor, umbilical cord around the neck, neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, drug factors, etc. Acquired factors mainly include brain trauma, central nervous system infections, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial tumors, and other causes. Therefore, when a child exhibits symptoms of epilepsy, it is necessary to promptly visit the department of neurology to conduct relevant examinations to determine the cause. The examination methods mainly include CT, MRI, EEG, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc. After identifying the cause, symptomatic treatment methods should be adopted to control the symptoms of epilepsy episodes. In clinical practice, controlling epilepsy is mainly achieved through drug treatment, with commonly used medications including carbamazepine, sodium valproate, gabapentin, etc. For some patients with refractory epilepsy, surgical treatments may also be used to control symptoms.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What is childhood epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a persistent brain disease characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures, abnormal perceptions, and associated neurological, cognitive, psychological, and social issues. An epileptic seizure refers to sudden, brief symptoms and signs caused by excessive and abnormal discharges of brain neurons. Depending on the affected brain functional areas, clinical manifestations can vary, including disturbances in consciousness, motor functions, sensory abnormalities, as well as psychiatric and autonomic nervous system dysfunctions. It is important to note that epileptic seizures and epilepsy are two distinct concepts.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Can children's epilepsy be effectively treated?

Can childhood epilepsy be cured? Firstly, it depends on the type of epilepsy. If the symptoms are not very severe, the frequency of convulsions is low, and comprehensive exams such as brain MRI and genetic testing show no problems, and the child's intellectual development is normal, then this type of epilepsy might be curable. Generally, after 2 to 3 years of effective antiepileptic drug treatment and then gradually discontinuing the medication if there are no further seizures, the condition can usually be controlled. However, some types of epilepsy are associated with underlying diseases, such as cerebral palsy, inherent metabolic genetic disorders, poor brain development, or organic brain lesions. The treatment outcomes for these types of epilepsy are not good, and they are generally difficult to control.

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Written by Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
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Can patients with epilepsy eat mangoes?

Epilepsy patients can eat mangoes. Mangoes are rich in vitamins and can supplement the essential nutrients needed by the human body. However, some people may be allergic to mangoes, and generally should not consume them. There are no specific dietary restrictions for epilepsy patients, but they should try to eat less spicy and greasy food, avoid mental stimulation, which can provoke seizures. Additionally, patients should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement the necessary vitamins and nutrients. They should also have a balanced diet, including lean meat, fish, poultry eggs, soy products, and some milk. It is important to have a regular lifestyle, sleep and wake up on time, and ensure sufficient sleep duration and quality.