5 expert-recommended tips parents of chidren with epilepsy must follow

5 expert-recommended tips parents of chidren with epilepsy must follow
Paediatric neurologist, Dr Neetu Desai from Hinduja hospital says that parents with an epileptic child should keep these tips in mind.

1. Make your child take his medicines regularly

Parents make the mistake of discontinuing their child’s medicines once they observe that he is doing fine. However, Dr Desai strongly advises against doing and says that you should first consult your doctor before making any such decisions. Here’s all that you need to know about medicines for epilepsy.

2.  Don’t be over-protective

As a parent, when your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, it is normal to be worried about their well-being and how he will adapt to a normal school life. However, avoid being over-protective of your child. ‘Involve him in various extra-curricular activities and let him play sports if he wants to,’ says Desai.

3. Inform your child’s school beforehand

Despite how common epilepsy is among children, unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding the condition due to which parents hesitate to inform their child’s teachers. These are the top myths about epilepsy that need to be busted. Dr Desai says it is very important for the parents of an epileptic child to inform the school authorities and also keep their child’s teach in the loop about the condition.

4. Don’t get depressed

Dr Desai says that many parents end up feeling depressed once their child is diagnosed with epilepsy. The good news is that in 70-80% of cases, epilepsy can easily be controlled in children with the help of medicines. ‘Only 20-30% of children with epilepsy need to undergo surgery or be put on a ketogenic diet following which even they are able to lead a normal life,’ explains Dr Desai. Here’s what you need to know about a ketogenic diet for preventing epileptic attacks.

5. Understand the triggers for seizures

Ensure that your child is sleeping on time and getting adequate sleep as sleep deprivation is a common trigger for seizures in epileptic children. Recognize and understand what triggers seizures in your child. Other causes could be not taking medicines regularly, fever and photosensitivity. In some cases, epileptic children exposed to bright or flashing lights could suffer from a seizure which is known as photosensitivity.

[1] Amudhan S, Gururaj G, Satishchandra P. Epilepsy in India I: Epidemiology and public health. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology . 2015;18(3):263-277. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.160093.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

Previous Article

Hypnic jerks – Why do you feel a sudden jerk when you fall asleep?

Next Article

Why is too much adrenaline rush bad for you?