Geisinger expert: Early diagnosis key to treating epilepsy, seizures in children
Medication, surgery, and diet changes among treatments
DANVILLE – Many children with seizures experience them temporarily as a result of illness. But of those children diagnosed with epilepsy, a chronic seizure disorder, about 30 percent continue to have repeated seizures into adulthood.
The key to helping pediatric patients with seizures is to first pinpoint the exact cause of the problem, according to Geisinger Director of Neurophysiology Jill M. Gotoff, M.D.
“Epileptic seizures result from disruptions of the normal electrical activity in the brain,” Dr. Gotoff said. “Through our screening and treatment program at Geisinger, we try to make sure those disruptions in normal brain activity don’t occur.”
An estimated 120,000 children experience a seizure each year. The majority of these patients (about 75,000 to 100,000) experience a febrile or fever-caused seizure, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
In patients who do not have illness-caused seizures, diagnosing them at an early age allows doctors to start providing more appropriate treatment, Dr. Gotoff said. And contrary to some misconceptions, the majority of children with epilepsy or chronic seizures can lead very active, normal lifestyles.
Geisinger’s Department of Neurology, along with the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, offers comprehensive epilepsy screening and treatment programs for adults and children. The program received a boost May 1 when Frank Gilliam, M.D. MPH, joined Geisinger as director of neurology and June 1 when pediatric neurologist Ronald Spiegel, M.D, joined Geisinger.
Patients receive a comprehensive assessment tailored to their individual needs in one of Geisinger Medical Center’s specialized long-term monitoring beds. After a patient is evaluated, neurologists may recommend either an adjustment of epilepsy medications or surgery.
In most cases, appropriate medication reduces or stops the seizures. Geisinger also offers the ketogenic diet, which is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been clinically proven to reduce seizures.
“We have state of the art resources that can treat even the most severe epilepsy cases,” Dr. Gotoff said. “Our program is about recognizing a problem early and then offering the services to help patients lead normal, healthy lives.”