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Good Morning! Welcome Applicants!. October 21, 2011. First Nonfebrile Seizure. What to do?. Nonfebrile seizure. 25,000 to 40,000 per year Cannot be explained by an immediate, obvious provoking cause such as head trauma or intracranial infection. History. Associated factors. Age
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Good Morning! Welcome Applicants! October 21, 2011
First Nonfebrile Seizure What to do?
Nonfebrile seizure • 25,000 to 40,000 per year • Cannot be explained by an immediate, obvious provoking cause such as head trauma or intracranial infection
Associated factors • Age • Family History • Developmental Status • Behavior • Health at seizure onset – febrile, ill, exposed to illness, sleep deprived • Precipitating event other than illness – trauma, toxins
Symptoms during seizure • Aura • Behavior • Preictal symptoms • Vocal • Motor • Head or eye turning, eye deviation, posturing, jerking, stiffening, automatisms • Respiration • Autonomic • Pupillary dilation, drooling, incontinence, vomiting • Loss of consciousness
Symptoms following seizure • Amnesia • Confusion • Lethargy • Sleepiness • Headaches • Muscle aches • Transient focal weakness (Todd’s paresis) • Nausea or vomiting
Is it really a seizure? • Breath-holding spells • Syncope • GERD • pseudoseizures
Physical Exam • State of consciousness, language, social interaction • Global development • Dysmorphic features, neurocutaneous skin findings, organomegaly, limb asymmetry • Head circumference • Neuro exam • Cranial nerves • Motor strength and tone • Reflexes • Gait • Cerebellar and sensation tests
CBC, BMP, Calcium, Tox screen? • Recommendations • Should be ordered based on individual clinical circumstances that include suggestive historic or clinical findings such as vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or failure to return to baseline status • Toxicology screening should be considered across the entire pediatric age range if there is any question of drug exposure or substance abuse
Exception to the rule • Children under 6 months of age • Some studies show a 70% incidence of hyponatremia associated with seizures in this age group
Lumbar puncture • Recommendation • In the child with a first nonfebrile seizure, LP is of limited value and should be used primarily when there is concern about possible meningitis or encephalitis
EEG • Recommendation • The EEG is recommended as part of the neurodiagnostic workup of the child with an apparent first unprovoked seizure
EEG • Helps to determine seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, and risk for recurrence • Optimal timing is not clear • An EEG done in the first 24 hours will most likely show abnormalities, but can be due to postictal slowing • There is no evidence that the EEG must be done before discharge from the ED • Can be arranged on an outpatient basis
Neuroimaging • Recommendations • If a study is obtained, MRI is the preferred modality • Emergent neuroimaging should be performed in a child of any age who exhibits a postictal focal deficit or who has not returned to baseline within several hours after the seizure • Nonurgent neuroimaging with MRI should be seriously considered in any child with a significant cognitive or motor impairment of unknown etiology, unexplained abnormalities on neuro exam, a focal seizure, an EEG that does not represent a benign partial epilepsy of childhood or primary generalized epilepsy, or in children under 1 year of age
To Treat or not to Treat? • Discuss all strategies with patient/parents • Antiepileptic drugs • Special diets (ketogenic diet) • Surgery • Vagus nerve stimulation • Most neurologists do not recommend AEDs after a first seizure because only 30% have a second seizure • After 2 seizures, the risk of having a third one increases to about 75% without treatment • AED is usually started after 2 seizures • 1/3 of patients are refractory to medication
Precautions • Patient/parents should be informed about possible precipitating factors: • Sleep deprivation • Hyperventilation • Alcohol abuse • Recreational drugs • Photic light stimulation
Can they play sports? • Yes! They can participate in sports • Basic safety precautions • No swimming or bathing alone
Can they drive? • Yes! They can drive • Each state has different laws • Most suggest being seizure free for 6-months
Outer Ear Disease, Dr. Simon Noon Conference