Question
The child had two seizures while sleeping. The local diagnosis was epilepsy. The family wants a clear diagnosis in Beijing and a specific treatment plan. Can any tests confirm the condition?
Answer
Certainly, an electroencephalogram (EEG) that detects epilepsy waves (also known as epileptic discharges) is an important basis for diagnosing epilepsy. The diagnostic criteria for epilepsy include having recurrent seizures, the presence of epilepsy waves detected on an EEG, and the effectiveness of antiepileptic medication treatment. However, an EEG is not the only basis for diagnosis, as the EEG of some epilepsy patients may be normal. Even with a 24-hour long-term EEG, the positive detection rate is only 80%.