Patient's question:
Hello. I'm worried that my child might have epilepsy, so I had an MRI and video EEG test. I also had serum, blood routine, and blood sugar tests done. All the results were normal, but the doctor couldn't confirm the diagnosis. How can I be sure if it is or not?Doctor's answer:
The examination of epilepsy is diverse, with the main focus being on brain examinations.(1) Electroencephalography (EEG): Based on the characteristics of abnormal discharges, such as location, pattern, and frequency, it helps diagnose the type of epilepsy, facilitates the formulation of treatment plans, and assists doctors in assessing the overall brain function from a physiological perspective.
(2) Brain CT Scan: A structural imaging examination suitable for patients with epilepsy caused by organic brain damage. The scan can reveal epileptic foci, and when necessary, it can be combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for further clarification.
(3) Ambulatory EEG: It can continuously record the patient's brainwave for 24 hours (or longer), capturing each abnormal signal. Doctors can playback and analyze the details of the patient's brain activity every second, significantly reducing misdiagnosis rates, enabling accurate diagnosis, precise classification, systematic treatment, and ultimately achieving clinical cure.
(4) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It has high soft tissue resolution, utilizes signals emitted by hydrogen protons in the body for imaging, is radiation-free, and offers high contrast.