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Does Depression Cause Seizures In A Child?
Question: My daughter is 3 years and five months now. My daughter had her first seizure at 3 years we took and MRI and also EEG which says its normal so we took her home back and again exactly after 4 months same thing happened at that time we took a EEG in wake up state everything is normal, but in sleep state frontal lobe seizure is detected. So doctors have prescribed Trioptal 300mg 2.5 ml twice a day. Can someone please help me on the side effects of the medicine and I also wanted to know if depression can cause seizure because both the times I was not around with my daughter only mother in law was around. Please tell
Me what all can be done to avoid these kind of episode.
Me what all can be done to avoid these kind of episode.
Brief Answer:
Seizures are usually due to aberrations in brain structure
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have very carefully gone through your query and understand your concerns. The commonest cause of fever in children is febrile convulsion i.e. the seizures that occur when the child has fever. Otherwise the primary reason for getting convulsions lies in the structure of the brain. An MRI reveals anomalies of gross structure, if any, but abnormalities might also be there at microscopic levels. Depression is very unlikely to be the cause of seizures unless there is structural predisposition.
Let me mention that all anticonvulsants have side effects but the risk-reward ratio is favorable i.e. they are essential to be taken to prevent seizures. The effect of getting seizures is much worse than any side effect of these medications. Hence I would insist you not to bother about the side effect profile of Trioptal. It is a good medicine and needs to be taken without worries.
Apart from avoidance of strong stimuli like strong light, loud sound etc. and other than desperately controlling rise of temperature during fever, if it occurs, there is not much that you can do to prevent seizures. The main thing to do to prevent seizures is to give the medicines religiously without fail.
Let me know if I could be of further assistance.
Regards
Seizures are usually due to aberrations in brain structure
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have very carefully gone through your query and understand your concerns. The commonest cause of fever in children is febrile convulsion i.e. the seizures that occur when the child has fever. Otherwise the primary reason for getting convulsions lies in the structure of the brain. An MRI reveals anomalies of gross structure, if any, but abnormalities might also be there at microscopic levels. Depression is very unlikely to be the cause of seizures unless there is structural predisposition.
Let me mention that all anticonvulsants have side effects but the risk-reward ratio is favorable i.e. they are essential to be taken to prevent seizures. The effect of getting seizures is much worse than any side effect of these medications. Hence I would insist you not to bother about the side effect profile of Trioptal. It is a good medicine and needs to be taken without worries.
Apart from avoidance of strong stimuli like strong light, loud sound etc. and other than desperately controlling rise of temperature during fever, if it occurs, there is not much that you can do to prevent seizures. The main thing to do to prevent seizures is to give the medicines religiously without fail.
Let me know if I could be of further assistance.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor the detailed reply. As you said we took MRI and it has no abnormalities. MRI is completely normal. How can we determine what is the reason for seizure. Is there a way to find out what is the reason for seizure. Also please let me know if any foods will help in preventing seizure and also any food which will trigger seizure so that I can stop it
Brief Answer:
Anticonvulsants need to be continued
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. You may not always detect the exact parameter behind the causation of seizures. MRI does not detect the abnormalities at microscopic or molecular level. Irrespective of that, anticonvulsants need to be given. Ketogenic diet is considered preveventive for seizures but opinion is divided regarding its significance.
Keep Midasafe (midazolam) spray handy. Apply 2 puffs in each nostril if she ever gets a seizure. This will stop the seizure.
Regards
Anticonvulsants need to be continued
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. You may not always detect the exact parameter behind the causation of seizures. MRI does not detect the abnormalities at microscopic or molecular level. Irrespective of that, anticonvulsants need to be given. Ketogenic diet is considered preveventive for seizures but opinion is divided regarding its significance.
Keep Midasafe (midazolam) spray handy. Apply 2 puffs in each nostril if she ever gets a seizure. This will stop the seizure.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for the immediate reply and thank you so much for the spray I will definitely buy that and keep it for emergency. Just once last question can any fall when she was 1 year or 2 could cause Seizure.
Brief Answer:
Not directly related
Detailed Answer:
Although the fall could have been responsible for the seizures, that would have shown in the MRI. Since that is not the case, I would not attribute it to the fall.
Regards
Not directly related
Detailed Answer:
Although the fall could have been responsible for the seizures, that would have shown in the MRI. Since that is not the case, I would not attribute it to the fall.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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