The Child's Doctor articles
The Child’s Doctor, Journal of Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago
The Child’s Doctor is published by Children’s Memorial Hospital twice a year for community-based physicians. The journal offers continuing medical education (CME) through articles authored by Children’s Memorial’s physicians. It also includes news articles on research at Children’s Memorial. Read the latest issue of The Child’s Doctor here.
Articles on topics in pediatric epilepsy:
Simple Febrile Seizures in Children by Charu Venkatesan MD, PhD Published Fall 2008
Simple febrile seizures in children are very common. Due to concerns about potential adverse outcomes, particularly the risk of developing epilepsy, available treatment options have been used in attempts to prevent recurrence of febrile seizures. In a recently issued clinical practice guideline, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has addressed the relative risks and benefits of the use of anticonvulsants and antipyretics for long-term management of simple febrile seizures, to help pediatricians make evidence-based decisions. This review will focus on the risks associated with simple febrile seizures, as well as discuss the latest recommendations on evaluation and treatment.
Diagnostic Evaluation of Status Epilepticus in Children by Kent Kelley, MD (no longer at Children’s Memorial Hospital Published Fall 2007
Each year in the US, about 31,600 children under 18 years of age experience status epilepticus (SE), a life-threatening seizure lasting 30 minutes or a series of seizures between which consciousness is not regained. It occurs in up to 27% of children with epilepsy, and it can be the first presentation of epilepsy. In 2006, the first evidence-based practice parameter for diagnostic evaluation of pediatric SE was issued by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society. The recommendations were endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, and American College of Emergency Physicians. This article will review the latest recommendations on laboratory testing, electroencephalographic (EEG), and neuroimaging studies used to assess the specific cause of SE in children and guide treatment.
Research News: Stimulating Environment Reverses Effects of Seizures in Young Children by Vita Lerman Published Fall 2007
Children with epilepsy often struggle with cognitive and psychological effects of seizures, such as memory deficits and depression. Using experimental animal models and gene expression analyses, Sookyong Koh, MD, PhD, at Children’s Memorial, has been able to demonstrate the ways in which social isolation contributes to the cognitive and psychological consequences of epilepsy, and how an enriched environment actually reverses the damaging effects of seizures in young children.
Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy in Children by Arthur DiPatri Jr, MD and Tord Alden, MD Published Spring 2005
In the United States, 37,500 children under the age of 18 will be diagnosed with epilepsy each year, and it is estimated that there are approximately 1.25 to 2 million affected children. Of these patients, 20% to 25% will develop a chronic seizure disorder or medically intractable epilepsy, and an estimated 5% of patients deemed medically intractable might benefit from some type of epilepsy surgery.
Psychiatric Comorbidity in Youth with Epilepsy by Sigita Plioplys, MD, PhD Published Fall 2003
Even though population-based studies demonstrate that 50%-70% of children with epilepsy will achieve stable seizure remission, a high rate of educational underachievement and poor social adjustment in adulthood has been observed. It is important for physicians who treat children to be aware of the relationship between epilepsy and psychopathology so that appropriate intervention can be made in hopes of facilitating the best long-term outcome.