Epilepsy Center

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can affect children of all ages. In epilepsy, the brain suddenly produces bursts of abnormal electrical activity. For a child’s brain to work properly, there must be a balance between cells that excite and cells that calm down brain activity. When this delicate balance is disturbed, a seizure can occur.

Epilepsy in children can result from a variety of causes. Some children are born with brain abnormalities that make them more likely to have seizures. Others may develop epilepsy after a brain injury at birth, severe head trauma, a brain tumor, or an infection in the brain (such as meningitis or encephalitis).  A family history of epilepsy can also cause a child to inherit epilepsy.  However, there are cases where no specific cause is found.  Epilepsy can begin at any age, including in infants, toddlers, school-age children, and teenagers.

A seizure is a result of abnormal brain electrical activity. A child may experience a sudden change in awareness, behavior, movement, or feeling. There are many different types of seizures that can affect children. Some seizures may be very subtle such as tingling in a part of the body, changes in vision, or a brief stare or a sudden halt in activity.  Others can be dramatic involving loss of consciousness, stiffening, and jerking movements.

It’s important to understand the difference between a seizure and epilepsy. Seizures may indicate the possibility of epilepsy in a child; however, seizures do not confirm an epilepsy diagnosis. A seizure is a symptom of a disruption in normal brain activity. Epilepsy, on the other hand, is the underlying condition causing the disruption in normal brain activity.  Having epilepsy means that the person is likely to have recurring seizures. If a child has only one seizure, it does not necessarily mean they have epilepsy. Doctors usually diagnose epilepsy when a child has had two or more unprovoked seizures (seizures not caused by a fever or a specific acute medical problem).