Patient's question:
Six-year-old child, weighing 25 kilograms. In late March, the child saw a doctor for an illness, which was diagnosed as absence seizures through an electroencephalogram and prescribed Keppra for treatment. The child started taking the medication on April 1st, with two doses per day, half a tablet each time. On April 3rd, the child developed chickenpox, with high fever for one day and low fever for two days, but the medication was not stopped during this period. The chickenpox has now healed. However, the child still experiences five to six episodes of absence seizures daily. However, it seems that the child's eyes are not as vacant during the seizures as they used to be. Seizures are less frequent or almost non-existent in the morning, but more common in the afternoon and evening. Moreover, when a seizure occurs, it tends to happen in quick succession within a short period, such as two to three episodes in one or two hours.Doctor's answer:
Most people experience good efficacy with absence seizures, but a small portion of seizure types require further clarification and are not easily controlled. These may need repeated adjustments to the treatment plan. It is recommended to continue follow-up with the primary physician, who will adjust the plan based on the effectiveness and inform you when blood tests are needed. Some side effects may occur, but most people gradually develop tolerance over time. If you cannot tolerate the side effects, the doctor will make adjustments as needed. Typical absence seizures do not frequently occur due to startling stimuli, but atypical absence seizures or those accompanied by myoclonic seizures may be related to such stimuli.