Epilepsy is a long-lasting neurological disorder that requires constant supervision and treatment. It is estimated that approximately 300,000 children and adolescents have epilepsy in the United States. Having any chronic medical condition - including epilepsy - has physical, psychological, emotional and financial impacts in both the child and their family. In this setting, emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety can also occur, and create a very poor quality of life if not properly addressed.

Depression is frequently seen in individuals with epilepsy. In fact, depression and suicide is higher in epileptic individuals compared to general population. A recent study indicates that depression can also extend to the child’s school performance. From the results of this study, children with epilepsy and depression did poorer in school compared to children without epilepsy.

Therefore, parents must be aware of their children’s school performance and frequently be in touch with their child’s teachers and healthcare provider. If needed, children with symptoms of depression must be evaluated immediately and treated in order to help their school performance – as well as enhance their quality of life.

Febrile seizures, also referred to as fever fit or febrile convulsions, are typically set off by a sudden increase in body temperature. It a benign condition that is most commonly seen in younger children ranging between the ages of 3 months and 6 years. It is estimated that 2 to 5% of children in the United States are affected by febrile seizures. While many children outgrow this and do not require long-term treatment, a recent study in Acta Paediatrica suggests that zinc supplementation may be able to help febrile seizures. Children with febrile seizures usually present with generalized motor convulsions that last for short period of time. Children with a family history of febrile seizures or a mutation in different ion channels are also more susceptible to febrile seizures than others. Certain trace elements like zinc play a role in brain function and development and prevention of neurological diseases. Febrile seizures may also benefit from this. Zinc is found in foods rich in meat, eggs, seafood (especially oysters) and from non-animal sources (whole-grain cereals, wheat germ, nuts, and legumes). The investigators of this study found that low concentration levels of zinc in the blood and cerebral spinal fluid were found in children experiencing febrile seizures. So, finding suggests that zinc may play a role in preventing febrile seizures. Although the results of this study are interesting - don't run out and start giving your child zinc supplements just yet. We need more information about zinc and its relationship to febrile seizures in order to further explore this intriguing finding.

Dopamine is chemical that produced in different parts of brain and plays an important function in brain - including movement, cognition, and motivation. Studies have also shown a link between dopamine and certain neurological disorders.

For instance, a lack of dopamine can cause symptoms consistent with Parkinson’s disease and an overproduction of dopamine in the brain can cause symptoms consistent with schizophrenia. It is also thought that, since dopamine may play a role in certain neurological diseases, it may play a role in epilepsy, too.

Finding the role that dopamine plays in the epilepsy has been very challenging. However, new information indicates that, in certain types of epilepsy, dopamine could contribute to some of the symptoms seen in these individuals. This is a very early finding in epilepsy research and requires a lot of more work, but researchers are hopeful about this exciting new finding that hopefully open more doors as how to treat this challenging condition.

Reduction in bone mass, or osteoporosis, is a common medical condition that's observered in the middle aged and elderly population. In fact, it is estimated that over the 10 million individuals in the United States are affected by reduced bone mass. Although these individuals are more susceptible to fractures in the spine or hip, bone fractures can occur anywhere and can be debilitating.

There are multiple risk factors associated with osteoporosis, including estrogen deficiency, advanced age, low calcium intake and lack of physical activity. However, there is another risk factor that can now be added to this list - individuals with epilepsy and taking antiepileptic drugs.

Not everyone with epilepsy is at a greater risk bone loss due to antiepileptic drugs. Certain antiepileptic drugs, such as phenytoin and phenobarbital, are associated with greater bone loss. In fact, a recent study published in Neurology suggests elderly men taking antiepileptic drugs are at an even greater risk of bone loss. So, any older men out there taking these medications should also be sure to schedule a bone density test and talk to their healthcare provider about their concerns.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder and approximately 3000,000 people in the United States are affected by it. Epilepsy often requires long-term medical supervision and treatment. When faced with any chronic condition, you may become depressed and overwhelmed when trying to manage your health.

Depression is a common medical disorder seen in the general population and more commonly seen in individuals with epilepsy. Despite this, depression is commonly undiagnosed and undertreated. Having epilepsy and depression can create a poor quality of life and place the person suffering from epilepsy at a greater risk of suicide. Seeking help, being honest with your healthcare provider, and learning coping strategies can greatly help you overcome your depression and help you on the road to managing your epilepsy.

With the summer in full swing, outdoor activities are a top priority - including swimming. However, if you have epilepsy, you should be aware of a potential hazard that lurks when participating in water sports - drowning. In fact, a recent study suggests that people with epilepsy had a risk of drowning that was 15 times higher than the general population. Although this risk was highest in people who had learning disabilities or were institutionalized, everyone with epilepsy - especially those who do not have their seizures under full control - should be careful when swimming.

Having epilepsy doesn't mean that you cannot participate in water activities, but you should be very careful when in the water. Always swim with someone, or attend pools with supervision just in case you experience a seizure while swimming - it could save your life.

Epilepsy is a condition that is characterized by seizures. Although there are many types of seizures, there are also many sources that these seizures can arise from - including low blood sugar, brain tumors, and stroke. And, where there are many facts about a condition, there are also many myths, too. This article will tell you some of the facts about seizures - and also dispel some of the myths.

Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, are usually characterized by brief periods of staring or rapid eye blinking. They may look harmless - but these seizures can actually impair learning and affect work, due to the bits of time missed during each seizure. This article will show you who is at risk of having this type of seizure and how it is treated.

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have recently found that individuals with epilepsy following a diet similar to the Atkins diet had a significant reduction in their seizures. The Atkins diet consists of foods high in fat and very low in carbohydrates. Another diet already used to treat seizures, the ketogenic diet, also shares these characteristics. While the Atkins diet isn't as rigid as the ketogenic diet is, this study has proven that the Atkins diet may have potential in treating seizures. Of course, extreme discipline is required when following this diet or the ketogenic diet, especially for those of you who can't part with your carbohydrates. While many individuals in this study saw a reduction in their seizures, there were a lot of others who discontinued the study because of the dietary restrictions.

Febrile seizures usually occur in babies and young children due to a recent spike in body temperature. They can be a frighening sight to experience for any parent, but it doesn't necessarily mean that your child will have epilepsy in the future. This article will outline which children are more at risk of having a febrile seizure and how they can be treated.