Patient's question:
Recently, my child has shown some tics. I'm not sure if it's epilepsy. I've asked many people, but they're not very clear. What are the differences between tics and epilepsy? How can I distinguish between pediatric tics and epilepsy? A more professional answer would be best.Doctor's answer:
Tics and epilepsy are two completely different types of diseases. Epilepsy, commonly known as "fainting wind," is a chronic disease characterized by sudden abnormal discharges of brain neurons, leading to temporary dysfunction of the brain. Because minor seizures of epilepsy can also cause facial muscle tics, this is why tics are sometimes mistaken for epilepsy. Teacher Yu said that the difference between the two lies in this: epilepsy is caused by inhibition of the cerebral cortex, resulting in brief loss of consciousness, and after recovery, the child cannot accurately describe what happened. It usually occurs at night. Tics belong to motor nerve issues; they are fine at night, never cause fainting, and never lead to falling. When undergoing an electroencephalogram (EEG) test at the hospital, most children with tics show normal results, while children with epilepsy exhibit abnormal EEG findings. This is the key to diagnosis.