Question
The child is over 5 years old and had epilepsy symptoms before turning one. They were diagnosed with epilepsy at a provincial children’s hospital in 2008. Can they receive the Hepatitis B vaccine?
Answer
Epilepsy is a clinical syndrome characterized by recurrent seizures caused by abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain, leading to temporary dysfunction of brain function. Clinical manifestations include varying degrees of functional impairment in movement, sensation, consciousness, autonomic nervous system, and mental functions, which may be accompanied by any combination of these. Common medications used to treat epilepsy include phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate, phenobarbital, ethosuximide, and clonazepam. The recommendation for vaccination in epilepsy patients requires individual assessment by a physician, including the control of the condition, type of seizures, and medications being used, to determine if vaccination is appropriate and to identify potential risks after vaccination. If the epilepsy patient is currently having a seizure or the condition is not well controlled, it may be necessary to temporarily delay vaccination until the condition stabilizes. It is recommended that patients and their families discuss this in detail with their physician to develop the most appropriate vaccination plan.