Not all seizures are caused from epilepsy, so if your toddler has a seizure, don’t jump to conclusions. There could be many other reasons for the seizure; hypoglycaemia, an electrolyte imbalance, a high fever, or meningitis are all possibilities. Additionally, a seizure can be caused by an injury to the head or brain.
If your toddler has more than one seizure and the above mentioned causes are ruled out, he could be diagnosed with epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes a sudden change in consciousness, movement, or sensation, also known as a seizure. The seizures are not painful, but are very hard to live with.
In the majority of cases, doctors do not know what the cause of a child's epilepsy is. This is referred to as idiopathic epilepsy. In cases where the seizures are a result of a head or brain injury, it is called symptomatic epilepsy.
Diagnosis of epilepsy is made when a CAT scan, MRI, or EEG shows that there are interruptions in the electrical activity of the brain. The tests are painless and will usually be accompanies by a physical examination as well as various blood tests.
