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Suggest Treatment For Recurrent Seizures In A Child
Question: My son recently had two seizures August 19th 2016 and September 22nd 2016. Since then no seizures.For both seizures the following happened:
- he finished eating and a few minutes later he started complaining about feeling nauses and that he wanted to throw up. He also said that his head felt funny. He then went to sit down. His head then tilted to on side and he started drooling. He would not respond to our questions. We called 911 right away, and they arrived a few minutes later. His vitals were fine, heart rate normal, Blood pressure normal however he would not respond to any questions. His eyes were looking down on one side. The ambulance took him to the hospital however by the time they arrived he starting coming out of it. Over all the seizure lasted around 30mn. Within a hour he was walking about and playing. Can this be panayiotopoulos syndrome.
We were referred to a specialist and an EEG (sleep deprived was done. It came back abnormal, it showed that the left side of his brain has slower waves that the right side and it showed spikes on the right side. The specialist wants to put my son on medicine and to monitor him, if there are now seizures in the next 2 years he can come of the meds he also want to conduct an MRI to get a better understanding of what is causing the seizures. In other words he does not know what type of epilepsy he has. Is this even epilepsy I am very concerned that the MRI will show either a brain tumor or brain malformations, cancer … how likely is this.
Psychically he is fine, he has a ton of energy.
At school he is doing very well no issues with learning.
- he finished eating and a few minutes later he started complaining about feeling nauses and that he wanted to throw up. He also said that his head felt funny. He then went to sit down. His head then tilted to on side and he started drooling. He would not respond to our questions. We called 911 right away, and they arrived a few minutes later. His vitals were fine, heart rate normal, Blood pressure normal however he would not respond to any questions. His eyes were looking down on one side. The ambulance took him to the hospital however by the time they arrived he starting coming out of it. Over all the seizure lasted around 30mn. Within a hour he was walking about and playing. Can this be panayiotopoulos syndrome.
We were referred to a specialist and an EEG (sleep deprived was done. It came back abnormal, it showed that the left side of his brain has slower waves that the right side and it showed spikes on the right side. The specialist wants to put my son on medicine and to monitor him, if there are now seizures in the next 2 years he can come of the meds he also want to conduct an MRI to get a better understanding of what is causing the seizures. In other words he does not know what type of epilepsy he has. Is this even epilepsy I am very concerned that the MRI will show either a brain tumor or brain malformations, cancer … how likely is this.
Psychically he is fine, he has a ton of energy.
At school he is doing very well no issues with learning.
Brief Answer:
Panayotopulos syndrome is a strong possibility.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Regarding to symptoms and age, Panayotopulos syndrome, or benign epilepsy of the childhood with occipital paroxysms, is very likely to be the diagnosis.
EEG findings are important in this diagnose and typically occipital lobe(s) abnormal spikes are seen.
MRI of brain usually is normal in these cases.
So, if EEG findings show typical occipital spikes and MRI results will be normal, then Panayotopulos syndrome is the most probable diagnosis.
Tumors, vascular malformations are very unlikely to be the cause of these kinds of seizures, but MRI is necessary to exclude them.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Greetings.
Panayotopulos syndrome is a strong possibility.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Regarding to symptoms and age, Panayotopulos syndrome, or benign epilepsy of the childhood with occipital paroxysms, is very likely to be the diagnosis.
EEG findings are important in this diagnose and typically occipital lobe(s) abnormal spikes are seen.
MRI of brain usually is normal in these cases.
So, if EEG findings show typical occipital spikes and MRI results will be normal, then Panayotopulos syndrome is the most probable diagnosis.
Tumors, vascular malformations are very unlikely to be the cause of these kinds of seizures, but MRI is necessary to exclude them.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Greetings.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thanks for your response. One more question what does the slower brain waves on the left side than the right means or indicate?
Brief Answer:
Probably hemisphere predominance.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Slower brain waves in EEG usually is indicative of vascular brain problems, but also it could be a normal finding related to hemisphere predominance.
At your son's age, there should be no cerebrovascular problems, so, in my opinion, dominance of one hemisphere to the other may result in such asymmetry.
Hope I have been of help.
Kind regards.
Probably hemisphere predominance.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Slower brain waves in EEG usually is indicative of vascular brain problems, but also it could be a normal finding related to hemisphere predominance.
At your son's age, there should be no cerebrovascular problems, so, in my opinion, dominance of one hemisphere to the other may result in such asymmetry.
Hope I have been of help.
Kind regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Thank you. Just to confirm your original answer is that it's likely PS or benign epilepsy?
Brief Answer:
PS is one of the benign epilepses.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
There are some forms of benign epilepses of the childhood, and Panayiotopoulos syndrome is part of them, so, in other words, it is one of the benign forms of childhood epilepses.
It is also called early-onset benign partial epilepsy with occipital paroxysms.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards.
PS is one of the benign epilepses.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
There are some forms of benign epilepses of the childhood, and Panayiotopoulos syndrome is part of them, so, in other words, it is one of the benign forms of childhood epilepses.
It is also called early-onset benign partial epilepsy with occipital paroxysms.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you. I will have the EEG report in a few weeks. I will send you a copy. Till then thank you and take care.
Brief Answer:
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Glad I helped you.
In the future you can ask me directly at: tinyurl.com/DrSpahoAnswers
Awaiting for the reports.
Kind regards.
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Glad I helped you.
In the future you can ask me directly at: tinyurl.com/DrSpahoAnswers
Awaiting for the reports.
Kind regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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