Question
What should I do if my child is diagnosed with hydrocephalus? My daughter is 5 years old, and she was hospitalized for two months in a children’s hospital after birth. She had encephalitis at the time, and hydrocephalus was detected at 3 months old. She underwent a second ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus when she was over a year old, and she experienced epilepsy again after the surgery. She has been taking levetiracetam tablets for two years as prescribed by the doctor, and after stopping the medication for a year, the epilepsy recurred. It has now started to occur every few months, so she has started taking the medication again. She now takes half a tablet every other day, and now she has a small seizure every few days. But today she shouted twice, which scared me. Doctor, what should I do in this situation? I consulted the doctor who performed the surgery before, and he didn’t give us a clear explanation of what to do. He also prescribed some more levetiracetam tablets. Please teach us how to handle this situation.
Answer
Based on your description, your child has developed hydrocephalus due to encephalitis and is experiencing epilepsy seizures. She is currently undergoing medication treatment and the seizures have become more frequent due to being startled. It is recommended to give your child some tranquilizing traditional Chinese medicine, such as Amber Pill for Calming the Dragon, which is specifically used for children who have been overly startled and has been effective. At the same time, since your child has a brain disorder and a history of epilepsy, it is advisable to avoid exposing her to loud noises and excessive startling, and to maintain her emotional stability.