Epilepsy

Epilepsy

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Diagnosis

During your child's visit to the Epilepsy Center, a team of doctors and other medical professionals will work to diagnose your child's medical condition. The neurologist will determine the type of seizures your child is having as well as the cause and type of epilepsy. This information is essential in determining the best treatment for your child.

The first step in making a diagnosis is asking about your child's medical history, as well as your immediate family's medical history. Since it is unlikely that we will witness your child actually having a seizure, we will ask many questions about what happens when your child has a seizure. Some of the questions you can expect include:

• How old was your child when their seizures began?
• What happened around your child when they had their first seizure?
• Does it seem like anything in particular triggers your child's seizures?
• What does your child experience during their seizures?
• What do observers notice when your child has seizures?
• How long do the seizures last?
• How frequently do they occur?
• What treatments has your child received for their seizures and what were the results of these treatments?

If your child's primary care doctor has sent their previous medical records, we will review this information. Be sure to tell the neurologist about any medications your child is currently using, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements or herbal remedies.

Your child will also receive a complete neurological examination. This evaluation may include scheduling for certain tests, such as blood or urine tests; an electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures electrical activity in the brain; an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures heart activity; imaging tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans; and other procedures, such as positron emission tomograhpy. Also called PET imagining or PET scan, positron emission tomography is a non-invasive diagnostic test that combines the technologies of computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated October 31, 2007