Handling an epileptic child
Jun 27, 2011
AT the age of two, Alex Tumwesige developed malaria, which presented with a high temperature, seizures, oozing with saliva and unconsciousness.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
AT the age of two, Alex Tumwesige developed malaria, which presented with a high temperature, seizures, oozing with saliva and unconsciousness.
Even after treatment, Tumwesige continued getting seizures.
He was later diagnosed with epilepsy.
According to Angelina Kakooza, a paediatrician at Mulago Child Health Care, epilepsy, locally known as as ensimbu, is a nuerological disorder caused by abnormal electrical discharge in the brain.
The condition is characterised by recurring seizures or fits.
Sylvia Ruyondo, a psychiatrist at Katalemwa Cheshire Home, says epilepsy is one of the commonest childhood neurological conditions.
She says 75% of the children who seek treatment during the weekly clinic at Katalemwa Cheshire are epileptic.
Signs
Ruyondo says any child can be affected by epilepsy. Before the attack, some children get warning signs like a churning stomach, headache, or seizures.
Febrile convulsions are caused by fever and high temperature whereas with epilepsy, the fits occur even when the child is not sick.
The symptoms of epilepsy depend on the type of seizure, she notes, with the commonest being a child getting more than two seizures, unconsciousness and continuous massive jerking and stiffening of the body, biting the tongue and oozing saliva.
The child may cry and lose bladder and bowel control.
Though rarely noticed, epilepsy can also present with absence of seizures. This kind of epilepsy is difficult to diagnose because the child does not get fits, though presents with changes in behaviour.
A child may become aggressive, irritable, lose memory, become absentminded and become unresponsive to spoken direction, or respond inappropriately. A child may drop things, walk around, fling off restraints, mutter or tap a desk aimlessly.
The seizures lasts about two minutes and may happen many times a day, leaving a prolonged feeling of confusion, loss of memory and deep sleep. However, some children may return to normal immediately.
Contrary to what many people believe, epilepsy is not contagious. The myth only works to increase the challenge as far as treatment is concerned. However, the condition can be hereditary.
Diagnosis
Ruyondo says diagnosis is clinical, coupled with a history of recurring seizures though at times an electro enchephalogram test is done to confirm by monitoring the child’s brain activity.
Treatment
Epilepsy drugs are available in hospitals and are free at Katalemwa Cheshire Home. Recovery depends on adherence and the dosage is given depending on body weight and other underlying diseases though treatment lasts a lifetime.
Complications
If untreated, the fits may damage the brain, resulting in mental retardation, depression, speech, hearing and physical disabilities like burns, especially when a child falls in fire. Seizures can lead to poor academic performance as they can cause absentminded in class.
Prevention
Augustine Mugarura, the director of the Epilepsy Support Association of Uganda says attendance of antenatal clinics, ensuring delivery in hospitals, taking children for immunisation, treating infections in time and taking the child for treatment as soon he is suspected to have epilepsy are some of the preventive measures.
Triggers
Inadequately treated malaria,
Feeling nervous or stressed
Flickering or strong light, TV, flash
Playing computer or video games for a long time
Noise, too much excitement and lack of enough sleep
First aid
Remove all the objects that can hurt the child or move the child away from those objects
Protect the child’s head with the hands or place it on a soft cushion,
Loosen tight clothes, do not restrain movement of legs or arms, turn the child to the side so that does not choke, stay with the child until it gains consciousness
Do not give anything to eat, drink or put any objects between the teeth because it may injure the gum.
AT the age of two, Alex Tumwesige developed malaria, which presented with a high temperature, seizures, oozing with saliva and unconsciousness.
Even after treatment, Tumwesige continued getting seizures.
He was later diagnosed with epilepsy.
According to Angelina Kakooza, a paediatrician at Mulago Child Health Care, epilepsy, locally known as as ensimbu, is a nuerological disorder caused by abnormal electrical discharge in the brain.
The condition is characterised by recurring seizures or fits.
Sylvia Ruyondo, a psychiatrist at Katalemwa Cheshire Home, says epilepsy is one of the commonest childhood neurological conditions.
She says 75% of the children who seek treatment during the weekly clinic at Katalemwa Cheshire are epileptic.
Signs
Ruyondo says any child can be affected by epilepsy. Before the attack, some children get warning signs like a churning stomach, headache, or seizures.
Febrile convulsions are caused by fever and high temperature whereas with epilepsy, the fits occur even when the child is not sick.
The symptoms of epilepsy depend on the type of seizure, she notes, with the commonest being a child getting more than two seizures, unconsciousness and continuous massive jerking and stiffening of the body, biting the tongue and oozing saliva.
The child may cry and lose bladder and bowel control.
Though rarely noticed, epilepsy can also present with absence of seizures. This kind of epilepsy is difficult to diagnose because the child does not get fits, though presents with changes in behaviour.
A child may become aggressive, irritable, lose memory, become absentminded and become unresponsive to spoken direction, or respond inappropriately. A child may drop things, walk around, fling off restraints, mutter or tap a desk aimlessly.
The seizures lasts about two minutes and may happen many times a day, leaving a prolonged feeling of confusion, loss of memory and deep sleep. However, some children may return to normal immediately.
Contrary to what many people believe, epilepsy is not contagious. The myth only works to increase the challenge as far as treatment is concerned. However, the condition can be hereditary.
Diagnosis
Ruyondo says diagnosis is clinical, coupled with a history of recurring seizures though at times an electro enchephalogram test is done to confirm by monitoring the child’s brain activity.
Treatment
Epilepsy drugs are available in hospitals and are free at Katalemwa Cheshire Home. Recovery depends on adherence and the dosage is given depending on body weight and other underlying diseases though treatment lasts a lifetime.
Complications
If untreated, the fits may damage the brain, resulting in mental retardation, depression, speech, hearing and physical disabilities like burns, especially when a child falls in fire. Seizures can lead to poor academic performance as they can cause absentminded in class.
Prevention
Augustine Mugarura, the director of the Epilepsy Support Association of Uganda says attendance of antenatal clinics, ensuring delivery in hospitals, taking children for immunisation, treating infections in time and taking the child for treatment as soon he is suspected to have epilepsy are some of the preventive measures.
Triggers
Inadequately treated malaria,
Feeling nervous or stressed
Flickering or strong light, TV, flash
Playing computer or video games for a long time
Noise, too much excitement and lack of enough sleep
First aid
Remove all the objects that can hurt the child or move the child away from those objects
Protect the child’s head with the hands or place it on a soft cushion,
Loosen tight clothes, do not restrain movement of legs or arms, turn the child to the side so that does not choke, stay with the child until it gains consciousness
Do not give anything to eat, drink or put any objects between the teeth because it may injure the gum.