Child Seizure Research Paper

A seizure is a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures often involve uncontrollable shaking (convulsions). They may last from 30 seconds up to 2 minutes.
Seizures in children usually stop on their own, without treatment, as the brain matures.

CAUSES
The most common cause of seizures in children is fever. Other causes include:
• Birth trauma.
• Birth defects.
• Infection.
• Head injury.
• Developmental disorders.
• Low blood sugar.
Sometimes, the cause of a seizure is not known.

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure your child has. Right before a seizure, your child may have a warning sensation (aura) that a seizure is about to occur. An aura may include the following symptoms:
• Fear or anxiety.
• Nausea.
• Feeling like the room is spinning (vertigo).
• Vision changes, such as seeing flashing lights or spots.
Symptoms during a seizure may include:
• Convulsions.
• Drooling.
• Rapid eye movements.
• Grunting.
• Loss of bladder and bowel control.
• Bitter taste in the mouth.
• Staring.
• Unresponsiveness.
Symptoms after a seizure may include:
• Confusion.
• Sleepiness.
• Headache.
• Injury resulting from convulsions during the seizure.
Some symptoms of a seizure may be easier to notice than others. Children who do not convulse during a seizure and instead stare into space may look like they are daydreaming rather than having a seizure.

DIAGNOSIS
This condition is diagnosed based on characteristics of your child's seizure. It is important to observe your child's seizure very carefully so that you can describe how it looked and how long it lasted. This will help your child's health care provider diagnose your child's condition.
Your child’s health care provider will do a physical exam. Your child may have tests, including:
• Blood tests.
• CT scan.
• MRI.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG). This measures electrical activity in your child's brain.

TREATMENT
Treatment depends on the cause of the seizure. In many cases, no treatment is necessary. Seizures usually stop on their own. In some cases, medicine may be given to prevent future seizures.

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Make sure that your child takes over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care
provider.
○ Do not give your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.
○ Check with your child's health care provider before giving your child any new medicines.
• Your child should return to his or her normal activities as told by his or her health care provider. Ask the health care provider what activities are safe for your child.
○ Avoid activities that could be dangerous to your child or others if a seizure occurs during the activity. This includes swimming or driving.
• If your child has another seizure :
○ Lay your child on the ground to prevent a fall.
○ Put a cushion under your child's head.
○ Loosen any tight clothing around your child's neck.
○ Turn your child on his or her side. If vomiting occurs, this helps keep the airway clear.
○ Stay with your child until he or she recovers.
○ Do not hold your child down. Holding your child tightly will not stop the seizure.
○ Do not put objects or fingers in your child's mouth.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child's health care provider. This is important.

SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
Your child who has only had one seizure has a second seizure.

SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
• Your child with a seizure disorder (epilepsy) has a seizure that:
○ Lasts more than 5 minutes.
○ Causes difficulty breathing.
○ Causes your child to fall and injure his or her head.
• Your child has two seizures in a row, without time between them to fully recover.
• Your child has a seizure and loses consciousness.
• Your child has a seizure and behaves unusually afterward.
• Your child develops a severe headache, a stiff neck, or an unusual rash.