Epilepsy

Epilepsy

A brain disorder involving repeated, spontaneous seizures of any type.

Symptoms:

• Recurrent fits. 
• They could be serious fits (grand mal seizures): irritability or unusual behaviour minutes
• before the fit followed by a rigid spasm.
• Your child will fall to the oor and her face and limbs might move jerkily. 
• She may lose control of her bladder or bowels. 
• After the fit she may be unconscious for a short while, and when she recovers she may be
• disoriented and confused, and might want to sleep. 
• In smaller fits (petit mal seizures), your child will stop what she is doing and stare into space, and will have no memory afterwards of the seizure.

Seriousness:

• If your child has never had a seizure she should be seen by a doctor immediately or taken to hospital. 
• If your child remains unconscious for longer than ten minutes she should also be taken to a doctor or hospital immediately.

Treatment:

• Put your child in the recovery position on her side and stay with her. 
• Do not slap or shake your child to make the seizure stop. 
• If your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, follow your doctor’s instructions for treatment.