Children

Information about the diagnosis and treatment of childhood epilepsy and how epilepsy may affect a child’s life.

In the UK, epilepsy affects around 60,000 children and young people under 18. Epilepsy can start at any age, including in childhood. If your child develops epilepsy you may have questions or concerns.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition (affecting the brain and nervous system) where a person has a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain.

The brain is made up of millions of nerve cells that use electrical signals to control the body’s functions, senses and thoughts. If the signals are disrupted, the person may have an epileptic seizure.

Not all seizures are epileptic. Other conditions that can look like epilepsy include fainting (syncope) due to a drop in blood pressure. Febrile seizures (convulsions), due to a sudden rise in body temperature when a young child is ill, can happen in childhood but these are not the same as epilepsy. These are not usually serious but it's important to get medical help if your child has a seizure.

See more about what is epilepsy?

What happens during a seizure?

There are many different types of epileptic seizure. The type of epileptic seizure a child has depends on which area of their brain is affected.

There are two main types of seizure: focal seizures and generalised seizures. Focal seizures start in only one side of the brain and generalised seizures affect both sides of the brain. Generally, adults and children have the same types of seizure. However, some may be more common in childhood (for example, absence seizures which can be very brief and are often mistaken for 'daydreaming' or not paying attention).

Different seizures include:

• jerking of the body 
• repetitive movements
• unusual sensations such as a strange taste in the mouth or a strange smell, or a rising feeling in the stomach.

In some types of seizure, a child may be aware of what is happening. In other types, a child will be unconscious and have no memory of the seizure afterwards.

Some children may have seizures when they are sleeping (sometimes called 'asleep' or 'nocturnal' seizures). Seizures during sleep can affect sleep patterns and may leave a child feeling tired and confused the next day.

See more about seizures.

Why does my child have epilepsy?

Some children develop epilepsy as a result of their brain being injured in some way. This could be due to a severe head injury, difficulties at birth, or an infection which affects the brain such as meningitis. This kind of structural change is sometimes called 'symptomatic' epilepsy.

Some researchers now believe that the chance of developing epilepsy is probably always genetic to some extent, in that anyone who starts having seizures has always had some level of genetic tendency to do so. This level can range from high to low and anywhere in between. 

Even if seizures start after a brain injury or other structural change, this may be due to both the structural change and the person's genetic tendency to have seizures combined. This makes sense if we consider that many people might have a similar brain injury but not all of them develop epilepsy afterwards.

See more about causes of epilepsy.

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

A diagnosis of epilepsy may be considered if your child has had more than one seizure. The GP will usually refer them to a paediatrician (a doctor who specialises in treating children). You (and your child if they can) may be asked to describe in detail what happened before, during, and after the seizure.

Having a video recording of the seizure can help the paediatrician understand what is happening.

The paediatrician may also suggest a few tests to help with the diagnosis. The tests alone cannot confirm or rule out epilepsy, but they can give extra information to help find out why your child is having seizures.

See more about how epilepsy is diagnosed.

What is a childhood epilepsy syndrome?

If your child is diagnosed with a childhood epilepsy syndrome, this means their epilepsy has specific characteristics. These can include the type of seizure or seizures they have, the age when the seizures started, and the specific results of an electroencephalogram (EEG).

An EEG test is painless, and it records the electrical activity of the brain.

Syndromes follow a particular pattern, which means that the paediatrician may be able to predict how your child's condition will progress. Syndromes can vary greatly. Some are called 'benign' which means they usually have a good outcome, and usually go away once the child reaches a certain age. Other syndromes are severe and difficult to treat. Some may include other disabilities and may affect a child's development.

Treatment for children

Your child’s GP is normally responsible for their general medical care. The GP may refer your child to a paediatrician or paediatric neurologist (a children's doctor who specialises in the brain and nervous system). An epilepsy specialist nurse may also be involved in their care.

Young people usually start to see a specialist in adult services (a neurologist) from around 16 years old.

Anti-seizure medication

Most people with epilepsy take anti-seizure medication (ASM) to control their seizures. The paediatrician can discuss with you whether ASMs are the best option for your child. Although ASMs aim to stop seizures from starting, they do not stop seizures while they are happening, and they do not cure epilepsy.

Most children stop having seizures once they are on an ASM that suits them. Like all drugs, ASMs can cause side effects for some children. Some side effects go away as the body gets used to the medication, or if the dose is adjusted. If you are concerned about your child taking ASMs you can talk to their paediatrician, epilepsy nurse, GP or pharmacist. Changing or stopping your child's medication, without first talking to the doctor can cause seizures to start again or make seizures worse.

Although ASMs work well for many children, this doesn’t happen for every child. If ASMs don’t help your child, their doctor may consider other ways to treat their epilepsy.

Ketogenic diet

For some children who still have seizures, even though they have tried ASMs, the ketogenic diet may help to reduce the number or severity of their seizures. The diet is a medical treatment, often started alongside ASMs, and is supervised by trained medical specialists and dietitians. 

Epilepsy surgery

It may be possible for some children to have epilepsy surgery depending on the type of epilepsy they have and where in the brain their seizures start. Epilepsy surgery (also called neurosurgery) involves removing a part of the brain to stop or reduce the number of seizures a child has.

Will epilepsy affect my child's life?

You may not be able to predict how epilepsy will affect your child’s life. However helping your child to manage their seizures and be open about their feelings can make a positive difference. Help your child’s school understand their condition to ensure they get the most out of their school and education.

Triggers for seizures

Some children’s seizures happen in response to triggers such as stress, excitement, boredom, missed medication, or lack of sleep. Keeping a diary of their seizures can help to see if there are any patterns to when seizures happen. If you recognise triggers, avoiding them as far as possible may help to reduce the number of seizures your child has.

Getting enough sleep, and well-balanced meals, will help keep your child healthy and may help to reduce their seizures.

See more about triggers. 

Immunisation (vaccination)

Some parents are nervous about immunisation, whether or not their child has epilepsy. The Department of Health recommends that every child is immunised (vaccinated) against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).This includes children who have epilepsy. Current research suggests that there is no connection between the MMR vaccine and epilepsy.

If you are concerned about immunisations, your child's GP or paediatrician can give you more information. It is your choice whether your child is vaccinated, and having more information might help you to decide.

Further information on immunisation is available from the Department of Health's publication: The Greenbook

Behaviour

For some children, having epilepsy and taking ASMs will not affect their behaviour. However, some people may notice a change in their child’s mood or behaviour, such as becoming irritable or withdrawn. Some children may be responding to how they feel about having epilepsy and how it affects them. They may also want to be treated the same as their siblings or friends and to feel that epilepsy isn’t holding them back. Encouraging your child to talk about their epilepsy may help them feel better.

Behaviour changes can happen for all children regardless of having epilepsy and, for many, may just be part of growing up. In a few children, irritable or hyperactive behaviour may be a side effect of ASMs. If you have concerns about changes in your child’s behaviour, you may want to talk to their doctor or epilepsy specialist nurse. 

Sport and activities

Most children with epilepsy can take part in the same activities as other children. Simple measures can help make activities, such as swimming and cycling, safer. For example, making sure there is someone with your child who knows how to help if a seizure happens.

See more about leisure and safety.

Can epilepsy change as children get older?

Seizures may change over time, either in type or frequency. Some children outgrow their epilepsy by their mid to late teens. This is called 'spontaneous remission'. If they are taking ASMs and have been seizure-free for over two years, their doctor may suggest slowly stopping medication.

How might my child feel?

Having epilepsy can affect a child in different ways. Depending on their age and the type of seizures your child has, the impact may vary.

For some children, having a diagnosis of epilepsy will not affect their day-to-day lives. For others it may be frightening or difficult to understand. They may feel embarrassed, isolated, or different in front of their peers. Encouraging your child to talk about their concerns may help them to feel more positive.

Most children with epilepsy will have the same hopes and dreams as other children, and seizures may not necessarily prevent them from reaching their goals.

See also Epilepsy in adolescence.

Your feelings as a parent

If your child is diagnosed with epilepsy you may have mixed emotions - for your child and for yourself. It can take time to come to terms with a diagnosis and how it may affect family life. You may feel worried or relieved. How you feel about the diagnosis may also change over time.

Our confidential helpline can offer you emotional support, information, and time to talk through your feelings. 

Join us

Joining one of our membership schemes provides you with a wealth of information and support to help manage epilepsy. And it helps forward our world-class research and medical services. Make a difference and join today.

Join one of our membership schemes

Other organisations

• Contact a Family - provides support and information for families of children with disabilities or medical conditions.

Epilepsy Society is grateful to Dr Simona Balestrini, Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Consultant Neurologist, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy and Associate Professor of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neuroscience Department, Children's Hospital 'A. Meyer' IRCSS - University of Florence, who reviewed this information.

Information updated: November 2023