Epileptische aanvallen bij kinderen

- There exist various types of epilepsy in children, which can be classified on the basis of nature and severity of the impairment of consciousness and the motor phenomena.

- The anamnesis is the main aid in distinguishing a seizure from a non-epileptic convulsion.

- Convulsions may have a number of causes, which may or may not be acute, while several factors may provoke attacks.

- The extent and necessity of supplementary investigation depend mostly on the child's clinical condition at presentation and on the nature of the seizure(s). The electro-encephalogram is important for the classification of the type of seizure.

- Anti-epileptic medication should not be started after a single epileptic seizure; whether it will be started after several attacks depends on the frequency and severity of the seizures, and on the syndrome diagnosis made.

- The long-term prognosis depends mostly on the syndrome diagnosis.