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Epilepsy
What medicine should not be taken for epilepsy?
Patients with epilepsy mainly rely on some internal medicine drugs for treatment. There are many drugs available today, many of which can effectively control the occurrence of epilepsy and improve the quality of life of the patients. However, it is also important to note that some drugs should not be taken in reduced quantities, Firstly, there are some drugs that affect the liver. Many drugs can impact the liver, and since many antiepileptic drugs are metabolized through the liver, combining them can increase the burden on the liver and even induce necrotic hepatitis, Secondly, it is necessary to choose the medication according to the type of epileptic seizures. For example, if it is a visual seizure, or a myoclonic seizure, then one should not take Phenytoin sodium and Carbamazepine, as these two drugs can potentially exacerbate myoclonic and visual seizures, Thirdly, patients with epilepsy should also avoid taking drugs that affect the metabolism of epilepsy medication. If used together, it can cause a reduction in the efficacy of the epilepsy drugs, easily triggering an epileptic attack, or even a prolonged state of epilepsy.
Can children's epilepsy be effectively treated?
Can childhood epilepsy be cured? Firstly, it depends on the type of epilepsy. If the symptoms are not very severe, the frequency of convulsions is low, and comprehensive exams such as brain MRI and genetic testing show no problems, and the child's intellectual development is normal, then this type of epilepsy might be curable. Generally, after 2 to 3 years of effective antiepileptic drug treatment and then gradually discontinuing the medication if there are no further seizures, the condition can usually be controlled. However, some types of epilepsy are associated with underlying diseases, such as cerebral palsy, inherent metabolic genetic disorders, poor brain development, or organic brain lesions. The treatment outcomes for these types of epilepsy are not good, and they are generally difficult to control.
incidence of epilepsy in children
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, with the highest incidence in children under the age of one. The prevalence of epilepsy in China ranges from 0.4% to 0.7%, with nine million epilepsy patients, of which six million have active epilepsy. Every day, there are 400,000 new cases of epilepsy, with a prevalence of up to 1% among those aged sixteen and under. There are many children with epilepsy, experiencing various types of seizures, each with its own characteristics, but all share the features of sudden onset, abrupt cessation, and periodicity.
What are the symptoms of epilepsy in children?
Common symptoms of epilepsy in children generally include sudden convulsions. During a convulsion, the typical manifestations are tightly closed or staring eyes, rolled-up eyeballs, clenched teeth, twitching at the corners of the mouth, frothing at the mouth, head and neck thrown back, and repetitive flexing or rigid shaking of the limbs. Generally, these can last for a few minutes, or vary from several seconds to ten minutes. Of course, there are also focal seizures, such as twitching of one side of the body, or absence seizures. Some infantile spasms are characterized by jackknife movements, occurring in clusters, with each display being different. The symptoms described earlier are typical of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.
How is epilepsy treated?
Epilepsy treatment can be divided into the following aspects: First is etiological treatment. If epilepsy is caused by tumors or cerebrovascular diseases, surgical removal of the lesion can relieve epilepsy, but seizures often still occur, so medication must not be stopped. Secondly, pharmacological treatment is necessary for epilepsy induced by unclear causes or genetic metabolic diseases. Treatment involves taking and adjusting medications under medical guidance, based on different types of seizures and individual patient circumstances. Additionally, for some cases where the cause cannot be clearly identified and no epileptic foci are found, functional surgery can be performed for treatment.
Care for children during epileptic seizures
During an epileptic seizure, it is crucial to control the seizure promptly by using sedative and anticonvulsant medications. While administering these drugs, it is important to closely monitor for consistent breathing. Additionally, during a seizure, it is necessary to ensure that the airway remains clear, provide oxygen, and, if required, use mechanical ventilation to maintain airway patency. Prevent biting injuries to the tongue and position the head to one side so that secretions can flow out of the corner of the mouth, preventing reflux of stomach contents and risk of choking. Protect brain function and vital organs, and prevent cerebral edema. After the seizure has stopped, long-term administration of antiepileptic drugs should be continued to prevent recurrence.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a common disease in neurology and includes many types, generally including primary epilepsy and secondary epilepsy. Primary epilepsy refers to cases where the cause is unknown, while secondary epilepsy has a clear cause. Common causes include developmental disorders of the cerebral cortex, tumors, and cerebrovascular diseases, traumatic brain injuries, and central nervous system infections, including encephalitis, meningitis. Cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction can also induce epilepsy. Additionally, certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as motor neuron disease and late-stage Parkinson's disease can also trigger epileptic seizures. Patients with ischemic hypoxic encephalopathy and toxic encephalopathy may also experience epileptic seizures, and some systemic diseases may also lead to epileptic seizures.
What are the dietary precautions for epilepsy?
People with epilepsy should avoid consuming stimulating beverages such as cola, Sprite, Red Bull, and coffee. They should eat more vegetables and fruits and less spicy and stimulating foods, paying attention to these dietary recommendations. Additionally, maintaining a regular lifestyle is important; avoiding prolonged use of electronic devices is advised as these, along with previously mentioned beverages like cola and Red Bull, can overexcite the brain and trigger epileptic seizures. It is also imperative to take anti-epileptic drugs regularly under the guidance of a doctor and not to miss any doses.
What precautions should epilepsy patients take?
Patients with epilepsy should pay attention to establishing regular daily routines and avoid staying up late. They should not participate in potentially dangerous activities such as climbing or swimming. Also, they should minimize consumption of stimulating beverages like cola, Sprite, Red Bull, and coffee. It is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits and reduce the intake of spicy and stimulating foods. Maintaining a regular life schedule is important, and playing electronic devices or using mobile phones for extended periods should be avoided. All sorts of exciting situations can easily trigger an epileptic seizure, so it is crucial to eat regularly without becoming too hungry or too full. Moreover, taking anti-epileptic drugs regularly and following medical guidance from doctors at the hospital is necessary.
What are the symptoms of epilepsy in children?
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder caused by various etiologies, characterized by repetitive, episodic, and transient central nervous system dysfunction due to abnormal and excessively synchronized discharges of brain neurons. The clinical manifestations of childhood epilepsy are complex and varied, commonly including loss of consciousness, localized or generalized muscular rigidity or clonic convulsions, and sensory abnormalities; there may also be abnormal behaviors, emotional and perceptual disturbances, memory changes, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.