Cause of Intractable Epilepsy
There is no single cause of intractable epilepsy. It is often hard for the doctor to pinpoint the cause without testing or surgery. There are a few factors that may play a part in epilepsy turning into intractable epilepsy:
- Certain epilepsy syndromes
- Age when it started (very young patients are at highest risk)
- Having more seizures in the first six months
- History of having a prolonged seizure
- Having a developmental delay
What Does This Mean for Your Child?
Intractable epilepsy may last a lifetime. This can lead to many long-term issues. Your child may have:
- Trouble doing school work
- A need for help with daily living skills
- A greater risk of getting hurt
Treatment Options
Your child’s doctor and health care team will talk to you about treatment options for your child. These include:
Medicine
Their seizure medicine may stay the same or it may be changed. The doctor will check their medicine and make changes if needed.
Surgery
The doctor may suggest surgery. If the doctor thinks surgery is right for your child, they will talk with you more about this.
Diet
Some children do better when changes are made to their diet.
To Learn More
For more information, visit the
Epilepsy Foundation website.