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With children, any medical issue or condition causes concern, but when your child has a seizure - it is especially frightening. Children deserve an environment that is totally focused on their care and their specific needs. With our young patients, we know any pediatric condition or childhood health issue can significantly impact growth and development. Our team of pediatric epilepsy specialists at Arkansas Children’s is only focused on the care for children so we know how to help any of their unique needs.
Our team of experts is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. Each child has unique growth patterns and progresses at an individualized pace, so seeing a pediatric specialist sooner - with the multidisciplinary clinical support that only a children’s hospital can provide – can make a real difference in your child’s future.
A Level 4 program that’s exploring new frontiers for your child. It might surprise you to know that most epilepsy is treatable. Especially at Arkansas Children’s, a designated Level 4 Epilepsy Center, where board-certified specialists deliver some of the most advanced care in the world. That means we’re giving children the greatest chance at a life that’s not defined by epilepsy. So, if your child has been diagnosed, count on nationally leading care close to home.
Mild seizures can affect attention or the ability to process information. With more complex cases of epilepsy, a profound effect can be seen on growth and development milestones as the frequency or severity of seizures to continue or worsen. Specialized care provided by experts that focus on a specific medical disorder such as epilepsy can fundamentally change the short and long term quality of life for patients. By bringing your child to the right place earlier for evaluation and treatment plans, the effects of epilepsy on growth and development are addressed as soon as possible. With the help of medication therapy, surgical correction or other advanced care, in many cases, seizures can be controlled.
Our board-certified pediatric neurologists and neurosurgeons have advanced training in the care of epilepsy for children. Called epileptologists, our pediatric epilepsy specialists are neurologists that have extra specialized training in the medical, psychological, social and educational issues that can be involved with children with epilepsy. By focusing on this clinical specialty, their experience and expertise allow them to better determine an accurate diagnosis and the optimum treatment plan.
As the only healthcare center in the state with subspecialty pediatric care in the neurosciences and an Epilepsy Program for children, our team provides care for any medical need.
Epileptologists Provide Advanced Care for Epilepsy Patients
Our board-certified pediatric neurologists and neurosurgeons have advanced training in the care of epilepsy for children. Called epileptologists, our pediatric epilepsy specialists are neurologists that have extra specialized training in the medical, psychological, social and educational issues that can be involved with children with epilepsy. By focusing on this clinical specialty, their experience and expertise allow them to better determine an accurate diagnosis and the optimum treatment plan.
At Arkansas Children’s, we know that a child’s primary care physician has the best understanding of each child’s individual health history, including growth and development milestones. If your patient needs diagnosis or treatment for any disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system, including specialized epilepsy care, our team is here to help. With specially trained epileptologists and skilled neurosurgeons, if surgical intervention is the right treatment option, our team is here to assist in short-term or long-term care management.
We accept patients through a physician referral. If you would like to learn more about our services for epilepsy care, please contact call our Arkansas Children's Appointment Center to make a referral at 501-364-4000.
Arkansas Children's provides expert care for diagnosing and treating epilepsy and seizure disorders in children appropriate for each child at their growth and development phase.
Our team of pediatric epilepsy specialists at Arkansas Children’s provides advanced care through state-of-the-art technology and innovative approaches for improved outcomes. As an academic medical center, our process includes the continuous discovery of new and improved techniques, with access to clinical trials and research, to better control seizures for our young epilepsy patients. We can obtain the highest quality images through systematic investment in the best technology through our Neurophysiological Lab test capabilities.
Expert Evaluation
Testing and Monitoring
Pediatric Specific Medications and Therapies
In many cases, medication management will be needed for the long-term management of childhood epilepsy. Because we are focused only on children's care, we take a personalized care approach for seizure medication dosage for each child's unique needs. Our team includes specially trained pediatric pharmacists to ensure that all medications prescribed to children are safe, effective, and adequately dosed for each patient based on their appropriate age.
For short-term testing, diagnosis or long-term epilepsy management, our specialized team cares for children of all ages – infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, teens and young adults up to the age of 21. Your primary care provider is an epileptologist – specially trained with advanced expertise just for children with epilepsy. This team of experts provides the continuity of care needed to improve the quality of life for your child. Our specialty nurses coordinate care every step of the way – and also provide a central contact so family members have someone to call with questions or to find out more information for day-to-day concerns.
We address all areas beyond seizure management such as education and overall well-being. Our team addresses specific areas that affect overall care, including school performance and behavior concerns.
We provide comprehensive education for the entire family – knowing that when the family engages in the process – in the daily care plan - outcomes are better. Arkansas Children’s provides patient resources to help families through any healthcare need. We hope you will get involved – maybe as a family advisor - to help us continuously improve our patient and family experiences.
With epilepsy specific expertise, our team of epilepsy specialists has the experience of knowing what has worked for others so we can provide resources for improved daily living. We provide helpful resources such as the ketogenic diet for the treatment of seizures and offer the expertise of a pediatric dietician to help you understand how to get started.
What is Diastat?
Diastat is a rectal medication of diazepam (valium) approved for treatment of prolonged seizures or clusters of seizures.
When should Diastat be given?
Diastat should be given for seizures lasting longer than five minutes or a cluster of seizures that occurs one right after the other.
How soon should the seizure stop after giving Diastat?
After giving the Diastat, the caregiver should notice effects of the medication within five minutes. If the seizure continues another five minutes, a second Diastat can be given as well as seeking medical attention (call 911 or going to local emergency room).
If Diastat stops the seizure, what should you do?
Continue to monitor the child. It is not always necessary to take him/her to the emergency room unless he/she is having trouble breathing or has become injured during the seizure.
What are the side effects of Diastat?
The most common side effect is sleepiness. The child will most likely be tired from the seizure activity, also. Other less likely side effects include: dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, nervousness, feeling unsteady or clumsy, or a rash.
Helpful Hints
Most seizures end after 1 to 2 minutes without harm. These seizures do not usually require a trip to the emergency room. You do not usually have to do anything if a person has brief periods of staring or shaking. Seizure first aid should be used with shaking or jerking lasting longer than a few seconds.
Although your child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, we encourage you to let your child live a normal life. Children with seizures do not usually have any physical limitations or activity restrictions.
There is a chance that your child could lose consciousness during a seizure, so there are certain circumstances that your child should avoid or be closely monitored. Your child’s life could be at risk if he/she were to lose consciousness during certain activities.
Please be aware that your child may have increased seizures when he/she is sick, running a fever, sleep-deprived, or under stress. It is also very important that your child not miss his/her medication because this could cause increased seizures.
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