Question
A child is experiencing daily episodes of vertigo, excessive blinking with eyes closed, clenched teeth, and a drooping right lip. The child had a fever a month ago. Recently, she has been losing consciousness suddenly without limb stiffness, waking up with delayed reaction as if she had fallen asleep. Sometimes, she loses consciousness and then wakes up with drooling. Occasionally, she loses consciousness and then smiles upon waking, making it difficult to tell if she has truly lost consciousness or if she is playing. Additionally, her temper has become very bad.
Answer
Epilepsy, commonly known as “epilessia” or “grand mal seizures,” is a disease caused by abnormal electrical discharges in groups of neurons in the brain that leads to recurrent episodes of abnormal motor, sensory, cognitive, and autonomic nervous system functions. Symptoms include abdominal pain, hallucinations, coma, drowsiness, and myoclonic jerks. Your child may have epilepsy. It is recommended to seek a medical diagnosis as soon as possible to start treatment promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for controlling the condition in children who are still young.