SEIZURES OFTEN UNRECOGNIZED IN YOUNG CHILDREN, TEENS.

Nov 07, 2000 (Reuters)

A child who suddenly falls for no reason may not be clumsy--he may have just had a seizure. Indeed, parents should pay attention to other subtle signs of seizures, such as frequent head nodding, rapid blinking or dazed behavior, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. The foundation has recently launched a campaign to raise awareness in parents. Their campaign coincides with November's National Epilepsy Month. "This campaign is aimed at increasing public awareness of epilepsy," said Dr. Paul M. Levisohn, a member of the professional advisory board for the Epilepsy Foundation. "There is a clear feeling that if we can diagnose children earlier, we can overcome some of the impact of the epilepsy, particularly the psychological impact," he said in an interview with Reuters Health. It is difficult to diagnose the condition in young children because they may be unable to communicate what they are feeling, Levisohn explained. "The symptoms they display are often misinterpreted, which can lead to weeks and even months before a diagnosis is made." Levisohn said that some children affected by "petit mal" or "absence" epilepsy are misdiagnosed and the true illness can go undetected for months. The seizure disorder is often characterized by 15-second staring spells that can be accompanied with movement. Such symptoms can be incorrectly diagnosed as attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or some other disorder. In the teen years, epilepsy symptoms--such as a blank stare followed by chewing, picking at clothes, mumbling, or random movements--may be mistaken for signs of drug or alcohol abuse. "Seizures do not necessarily mean that people have convulsions," Levisohn stressed. "They can be staring spells or other kinds of episodes." Epilepsy is treatable, however, so it is important that children receive an early diagnosis. "Early diagnosis can result in successful treatment," he concluded. For more information about the hidden signs of epilepsy, visit the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site at www.epilepsyfoundation.org or call 1-800-EFA-1000.