Tyler Foundation

Epilepsy Awareness Month, Fact #5: This is a tough fact to follow and may be difficult for many in our community to read. But it's important for us to educate others so that there is not a delay to a surgical evaluation and, at the same time, our journeys will hopefully provide a catalyst for development of new treatments as urgently as possible.

Why do we care if seizures are drug-resistant? After all, once the seizure stops, there's nothing to really worry about, right?

Wrong.

Drug-resistant seizures can have catastrophic consequences, especially in childhood. And most especially in infancy. A child can have regression or loss of motor function, speech, or other developmental milestones. They may stop eating. They might develop characteristics of autism.

Most frightening are the chances of dying due to sudden unexplained death due to epilepsy (known as SUDEP), which is as high as 1 in 150 in those with drug-resistant seizures.

Learn about the consequences of drug-resistant seizures in childhood on our website here: http://bit.ly/2PD6XJ3

What have been the consequences of drug-resistant seizures for your child? Share your story.

Epilepsy Awareness Month, Fact #2:

No, you don't put a spoon in a person's mouth when they're having a seizure. This is an urban myth we must dispel asap! If you see a child who is having a seizure, there are several things you should do: first, and most importantly, stay calm.

Time the length of the seizure and be sure to stay until it is over. Move objects out of the way to prevent injury. This is even true with focal seizures, as the child may be disoriented and attempt to walk or run away.

Be sure the child is as comfortable as possible and keep onlookers away. Do not hold the child down. Monitor the child’s breathing and never put anything in the child’s mouth. Wait until the child is fully alert to give water, food, or medications.

If you have a child with epilepsy, ask your neurologist when you should call 911 or give emergency medication, as it may be in less time depending on the nature of your child’s seizures.

What do you do when your child is having a seizure? Share your story.

Let's kickoff Epilepsy Awareness Month with our first fact! Fact #1: A seizure is a short occurrence of signs or symptoms due to abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. A seizure can affect any part of the body. They can be as simple as a feeling of deja vu, a stomach ache, dizziness, or include bodily movements and sometimes - but not always - loss of consciousness or awareness.

Do you know a child who had a type of seizure that had an unusual presentation or did not involve a loss of consciousness? Share your story.