Treatments - Overview
Children with seizures do not always need treatment. In many instances, explanation and reassurance by the doctor and advice about safety precautions and first aid management for possible future seizures is all that is required. Many children with epilepsy have only a single seizure and do not require medication.
For children with recurrent seizures, the decision to prescribe medication depends on the type of seizure disorder, the age of the child, the presence of associated developmental and behavioural problems, and the attitudes and lifestyle of the child and family. Medical treatment usually means prescription of antiepileptic medication to prevent further seizures but occasionally, medication is prescribed to treat seizures when they manifest.
General Treatments
Treatment options for children with epilepsy include:
- advice about first aid management of seizures
- advice about seizure precipitants and lifestyle changes
- prescription of antiepileptic medications
Special Treatments
For children with uncontrolled epilepsy, that is epilepsy in which seizures are not adequately controlled by medication, other treatments are available, including:
- rectal diazepam or intranasal/buccal midazolam, for treatment of prolonged seizures and seizure clusters
- new antiepileptic medications, available in clinical drug trials
- epilepsy surgery
- ketogenic diet
- vagal nerve stimulation
- alternative therapies