Can pediatric secondary epilepsy be cured?

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

Childhood epilepsy is the most common type of recurrent, complex neurological syndrome in childhood, caused by excessive discharge of brain neurons leading to episodic dysfunction of brain function. It is called primary epilepsy if it is related to genetics, accounting for about 2/3 of cases in children, while the remaining 1/3 are secondary epilepsy, caused by various organic lesions in the brain. Childhood epilepsy has many triggers, including infections of the central nervous system, congenital brain malformations, various brain hypoxia-ischemic disorders, metabolic disorders, poisoning, and more.
Medical advice: Generally, surgical treatment is recommended! Surgical treatment involves precisely locating the focus through preoperative EEG monitoring before destroying it. However, once the doctor identifies the focus of epilepsy in a patient, they may encounter an issue: it is not only the focus but may also be an area controlling language, sensory, motor, and other functions. If it is resected, the patient may lose that function. But it is very important to note that if surgery is necessary, the doctor must inform the patient or their family that the surgery may affect that function.
However, children and infants in this age group have highly plastic brain function. If a part of the brain's functional area is resected, the function can be partially restored through rehabilitation and other means after surgery, and this function can once again be miraculously regained. Therefore, if a patient is diagnosed with epilepsy and is suitable for surgical treatment, the earlier the surgery is performed, the better.