Childhood epilepsies: What should a pediatrician know?

Abstract

Seizures in children are among the most common neurological disorders. A pediatrician should know how to approach a child who presents with a seizure. This review will focus on points that are important in the evaluation of children who have experienced seizures. A comprehensive and neurologically focused framework for history taking and a thorough clinical examination are the cornerstones in diagnosing and managing seizures. This article reviews the clinical approach to the diagnosis, investigation, and management of epilepsy in children, excluding neonatal seizures. A pediatrician should also be aware of common epilepsy syndromes that occur in children such as Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centro-Temporal Spikes, and childhood absence epilepsy.