A seizure occurs when the brain functions abnormally, or there is abnormal electrical discharge in the brain which causes hindrance in the communication system of brain, this result into change in movement, uncontrolled muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.
Brain tissue is made up of neurons (brain cells). There are biochemical signals which help the neurons to communicate with each other. When the signals malfunction or over react, a seizure occurs.
Symptoms Of Focal Seizures In Children
In focal seizure a specific part of brain is involved, thus the symptoms will depend on the part of brain that is involved.
Most focal seizures in children have abnormal muscle spasms. There may be specific group of muscles that are involved or sometimes only certain part of the body is involved. For example head movement on one side or mouth twitching, with difficulty in speaking. Simple focal seizures are common form of seizures in children between 3 to 15 years of age.
In other form of focal seizure, the muscles contract forcefully, it appears early in the morning. Many times focal seizures can become generalized seizures where the whole body gets tonic and clonic convulsions, the eyes are rolled back and the child looses consciousness.
Causes Of Focal Seizures In Infants
There are several reasons which contribute focal seizures in infancy. Modern day imaging techniques and molecular genetic studies have helped to detect the causes of focal seizures. The infant brain is in developing stage and it may face several insults during the time of birth, in the womb and after the birth. Following are the common causes for seizures in infants.
- Defect in development of brain in the womb, it can be inherited genetic and chromosomal defect.
- Before birth injury or hemorrhage.
- Trauma during the time of delivery, as sometimes it occurs in forceps delivery.
- Infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, HIV, herpes simplex, etc present at birth.
- Infections such as E.coli, streptococcus, which are acquired after birth.
- Metabolic diseases.
- Deficiency of vitamin and electrolyte after birth. Or an imbalance of electrolyte due to several reasons after birth.
- Tumor.
 Treatment For Focal Seizures
All children may not require treatment for seizures, especially when the child’s EEG is normal and MRI is normal and the child has first episode of seizure. In a long run the consequences of seizures are minimal when there is no abnormality detected in the brain.
If a toddler requires antiepileptic medicines, he has to continue it till he does not have any episodes of seizure for two years. After 2 seizure free years the chances of focal seizures reduces to 30 to 50 percent. Once started antiepileptic should be tapered down rather than stopping it suddenly.
Vagus nerve stimulation, surgery together with medications and dietary treatment such as ketogenic diet are some other modes of treating complex focal seizure.
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