Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Many different disorders of the brain may be associated with epilepsy.
For some patients the epileptic disorder is congenital, that is,
the child is born with the predisposition to have epilepsy. In other patients
the epileptic disorder is acquired, as a result of brain damage that occurred after birth.
The congenital epilepsies could be the result of the
child having a gene that is responsible for the epileptic disorder; these are
the genetic types of
epilepsy. Alternatively, congenital epilepsy may be the result of factors that
interfere with the development of the brain during gestation, resulting in brain
malformations.
In acquired epileptic disorders, the damage might occur at the time of birth,
for example the case of newborns that have oxygen deprivation
during labor and delivery; or intracranial bleeding, as seen in some children
born prematurely. Also, the brain damage may occur any time after birth. For
example, epilepsy could be a complication of infections in the brain (meningitis,
encephalitis),
head injuries with brain damage, brain tumors, or intracranial bleeding.
Are seizures bad for children?
Presently there is no indication that short-lasting seizures will result in
any brain damage. However, prolonged seizures, especially generalized
tonic-clonic seizures, in some cases could result in brain damage, but this is
very unusual.
Although brain damage is not likely, children can be injured at the time of
the seizures. For example, in the atonic seizures there is a sudden loss of
muscle power and, if this happens when the patient is standing, it is followed
by a fall that might result in injuries to the face and/or mouth. Similar types
of physical injuries can happen with other seizures.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which the person has seizures. There are two kinds of seizures, focal and generalized. There are many causes of epilepsy. Treatment of epilepsy (seizures) depends upon the cause and type of seizures experienced.
Genetic disease is a disorder or condition caused by abnormalities in a person's genome. Types of genetic inheritance include single inheritance (for example, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, and hemochromatosis), multifactoral inheritance, chromosome abnormalities (for example, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome), and mitochondrial inheritance (for example, epilepsy and dementia).
Seizures are divided into two categories: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures are produced by electrical impulses from throughout the brain, while partial seizures are produced by electrical impulses in a small part of the brain. Seizure symptoms include unconsciousness, convulsions, and muscle rigidity.
Febrile seizures, or convulsions caused by fever in small children or infants can be frightening, however, in general are harmless. Febrile seizures is not epilepsy. It is estimated that one in every 25 children will have at least one febrile seizure. It is important to know what to do to help your child if he/she has a febrile seizure.
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