Question
A child developed epilepsy after falling off the bed at 1 year old, and all instrumental examinations showed normal results. The parents suspect it may be due to a congenital disease or brain trauma. Is there a way to check for this? The child is currently on medication, but has had a recurrence when the medication was forgotten, and now has not had a recurrence for over a year, but relapse again yesterday. The parents hope to find out the cause, and the doctor suggests genetic testing, but the parents are unclear about its necessity. If the child’s disease is congenital, does it mean it cannot be completely cured? Will the condition affect future offspring if the child is a girl? The child is now 5 years and 7 months old, with a height of only 105cm. What should be done? What kind of help is needed?
Answer
If such a situation occurs, it could be due to congenital malformation of the brain development. Some cases are related to trauma, but the cause is often difficult to determine. Genetic and chromosomal tests can be conducted on the child, as sometimes these are related to the cause. For an accurate diagnosis, genetic testing can be considered. Generally, most causes are not detectable, so continue with medication and observation. Typically, epilepsy may require 2-3 years of treatment.