Patient's question:
My mom hasn't been able to cook recently and often says she has a headache and feels dizzy. The key is that I don't know what's going on, but she just seems a bit unwell. What is pediatric epilepsy?Doctor's answer:
Hello, epilepsy can be divided into two major categories: primary and secondary. The former refers to cases with unknown causes or genetic factors, while the latter refers to convulsions caused by organic brain lesions due to various reasons, or induced by various metabolic disorders, poisoning, etc. The principle of epilepsy treatment is to start early. Begin with small doses, take medication regularly, and maintain a long course of treatment. Any increase or decrease in drug types or dosages should be gradual, otherwise, it may lead to drug overdose or epilepsy attacks. Typically, antiepileptic drugs need to be used for 2 to 4 years after the last seizure, including a gradual tapering process of 1 to 2 years. To determine the optimal dosage and assess efficacy, regular monitoring of drug blood concentrations can be conducted to guide medication. Antiepileptic drugs generally have side effects, such as drowsiness or excitement, ataxia, and intellectual impairment. They may also cause abnormalities in blood, liver, and kidney functions. However, generally speaking, drug reactions are mild and reversible, and they do not necessarily occur. As long as attention is paid, long-term use of antiepileptic drugs is still safe and reliable. Currently, there are no specific traditional Chinese medicines for epilepsy, so it is recommended to adhere to standardized antiepileptic treatment.