Nocturnal and other types of epilepsy in children and their symptoms

Impact of seizures on sleep

Nocturnal attacks disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, leading to postictal sleepiness.
Sleep fragmentation is more severe in focal epilepsy. The effect of antiepileptic drugs on sleep structure is controversial. First generation AEDs (barbiturates) have a predominant nonspecific inhibitory effect. Carbamazepine and other AEDs that act as sodium channel blockers improve sleep fragmentation.

Valproate improves the N3 deep sleep phase and reduces the REM phase. Lamotrigine may cause subjective insomnia, but polysomnographic studies have not demonstrated objective sleep deterioration.

Subjective fatigue was observed with Topiramate. Pregabalin changes sleep structure - increases the proportion of REM at the expense of N2 (non-REM2).

Sleep and epilepsy have a very complex relationship. Sleep is an essential human need, like air, water and food.

Most patients with epilepsy have a combination of daytime and nighttime seizures, and cases with a predominance of nighttime seizures are rare. Thus, the issue of night rest in patients with epilepsy and their home monitoring is very important.

This section was created to take care of those who need a qualified specialist, without disturbing the usual rhythm of their own lives.

Hello, doctor! I have the following question: why do I jump up and run in my sleep, what could it be? When I get overtired, I can jump up 2-3 times a night. I have a tumor in the right parietal region, EEG video monitoring seems to be fine, the epileptologist diagnoses epilepsy without a full examination and prescribed a course of treatment with pills for epilepsy, I’m afraid to use them in case it awakens this disease. What should I do?

When do seizures most often occur?

Sleep has several stages. Most of the seizures occur at the moment of falling asleep, that is, in the light phase of sleep. Attacks also occur during awakenings in the middle of the night and in the morning.

Despite the fact that the pathology has not been fully studied, experts note that it is the brain and its activity that is directly related to seizures. It is believed that during sleep there are a large number of different changes and seizures occur at certain times of sleep and wakefulness.

Cramps can become active at any time, but they were mainly noticed during the first and second stages of sleep. That is, most often seizures can appear:

• In the 1st or 2nd hour after falling asleep.
• If you wake up 1-2 hours earlier than expected.
• In the morning , within 1.5 hours after the person wakes up.

Cramps may also occur after a nap.

Epileptic seizure

The manifestations of epilepsy are as varied as the causes that caused them. The main most characteristic symptom is a classic epileptic seizure, which develops suddenly and most often for no apparent reason.

A seizure is an unexpectedly occurring, short-term, usually repeated many times, painful condition with precise time boundaries.

Seizures are the classic, most characteristic and striking manifestation of the disease. A seizure always develops unexpectedly, suddenly, figuratively, “like a bolt from the blue.” The most typical is the so-called grand mal seizure.

In its course, it is customary to distinguish a number of successive stages: the stage of precursors, aura, phases of tonic and clonic convulsions, post-ictal coma and, finally, sleep.

Precursors appear in the patient, as a rule, several days or even hours before the onset of the epilepsy attack itself. They manifest themselves in the form of headaches, feelings of discomfort, dissatisfaction with one’s own condition, irritability, decreased mood, and decreased performance.

The aura (translated as “blow”) is the immediate beginning of the seizure itself, while the patient’s consciousness does not yet turn off, everything that happens during this phase is subsequently remembered quite well. The aura may be completely different in different patients, but in the same patient it is always the same. This phenomenon is not constant and is observed on average in half of patients.

The aura may be accompanied by hallucinations. In this case, the child can see various pictures, which most often have an intimidating, frightening character. In addition to various visible images, auditory deceptions may also occur, and unpleasant odors may be felt.

Tonic phase of the seizure. Suddenly the student loses consciousness, all the muscles are very tense, but no convulsions occur yet. The child suddenly falls to the floor and almost always bites his tongue. During a fall, a very characteristic cry is emitted, which occurs when the chest is compressed by the respiratory muscles due to its tonic tension. The patient stops breathing, the skin first turns pale and then acquires a bluish tint. Involuntary urination and defecation occur. The reaction of the pupils to light is completely absent. This phase lasts no more than one minute, since if it lasts longer, death may occur from respiratory arrest.

The clonic phase is characterized by the development of a classic convulsive seizure. Breathing is completely restored. Foam comes out of the patient's mouth mixed with a small amount of blood. The phase lasts 2–3 minutes.

After the seizures gradually subside, the child plunges into a comatose state, which, in turn, then goes into deep sleep. After awakening, the patient loses memory of all events that occurred during the attack. In the future, some disturbances in orientation in space and some speech impairment remain.

What to do if your child is afraid to sleep alone in his crib

There are many ways to calm your child and overcome his fears of falling asleep alone. You can use the following tips.

1. Pay more attention to your child during the day. Hug the baby, talk to him, let him know that you will always protect him and come to his aid if he gets scared.
2. Until fears subside, put your child to bed and read him calm bedtime stories. Wait until he falls asleep and quietly leave the room.
3. Turn on the night light and gradually get your baby used to sleeping alone.
4. Buy a toy that has “protective” functions. Tell your child that this bear, robot or doll will guard his sleep.
5. Show your baby that you are close to his room; you can turn on the TV quietly or talk. Such muffled sounds will help you calm down and fall asleep.
6. Get a pet that you can leave next to your child: an obedient dog, a parrot or a hamster in a cage.
7. Create a cozy environment in your children's room. You should not use bright and flashy shades in the interior. Another common fear for children is the monster under the bed. You can put boxes with toys there or buy a crib that does not have legs, but stands on a solid base.

How to stay safe

It has been established that improper sleep, its restriction or lack of sleep can lead to consequences in the form of night attacks. Therefore, it is necessary to create all conditions for a patient with nocturnal epilepsy:

1. It is best to choose a low with a backrest trimmed with soft material. Two-tier and ra
2. Composite structures are not recommended.
3. It is not advisable to sleep on large and very soft pillows, which can cause suffocation.
4. It is best to place the bed away from different furniture, this will help prevent injuries.
5. Near the place of sleep you can place mats or other protective structures, rugs that will be useful in case of a fall.
6. It is best to use wall lamps
7. rough carpets from the bed, otherwise rubbing against them may cause injuries to the skin.

By following safety rules, you can eliminate the unpleasant consequences of seizures and convulsions.

Causes and manifestations of pathology

It is not known exactly why nocturnal epilepsy occurs. But the main factor contributing to the occurrence of convulsive seizures is considered to be the lack of proper sleep.

Frequent lack of sleep leads to depletion of the energy reserves of the central nervous system, disruption of the processes of excitation and inhibition. As a result, epileptogenic foci are formed in the cerebral cortex. The longer a person neglects rest, the higher the likelihood of seizures occurring during sleep.

Possible causes of epilepsy at night also include:

• physical, mental stress;
• regular use of alcohol, drugs;
• frequent stress;
• suffered traumatic brain injuries;
• infectious diseases;
• congenital abnormalities of brain development;
• genetic predisposition;
• injuries during childbirth;
• neoplasms in the brain.

It is impossible to independently understand what triggered the occurrence of convulsive seizures during sleep. Only a doctor can determine the cause of the development of epilepsy and select the correct treatment after the patient has undergone an examination.

In the nocturnal form of epilepsy, seizures most often occur in the first half of the night, during the REM sleep phase (this is due to changes in brain activity). Their appearance can be triggered by a sudden awakening or a sudden phone call.

If the disease progresses, convulsive crises appear in any phase of sleep, regardless of the presence of provoking factors. Let's look at the main types of attacks (Table 1).

Table 1 - Types of nocturnal seizures

The symptoms of nocturnal epilepsy are practically no different from the clinical picture of the daytime form of the disease. Immediately before a seizure appears:

• intense headache;
• feeling of discomfort;
• nausea;
• spasm of the facial and laryngeal muscles;
• speech disorder;
• chills.

Differential diagnosis of seizures

After these symptoms appear, cramps occur in a specific muscle group. They then spread in a sequence corresponding to the location of the brain centers that control movement. The patient has difficulty breathing and increased salivation. Involuntary urination and defecation may occur.

Clinical manifestations of epilepsy at night in adults can be supplemented by symptoms that are characteristic of a sleep disorder:

• sleepwalking;
• nightmares;
• panic attacks;
• walking and talking while sleeping.

In general, an epileptic seizure lasts from 10 seconds to 5 minutes. After this time, the person falls asleep. After waking up, he does not remember the events that took place during the night. Epilepsy during sleep is not always accompanied by seizures. Non-convulsive seizures can be recognized by the following signs:

• dilated pupils;
• blank look;
• lack of response to the environment.

Causes of the disease and risk factors

Epilepsy has not been fully studied, and doctors cannot give an exact answer to the question of why this disease occurs. It happens that it manifests itself in disorders associated with personality changes, but it can also affect a mentally healthy person.

There are a number of factors that provoke night attacks:

• lack of sleep and stress;
• emotional and physical overload;
• alcohol abuse;
• taking drugs;
• head injuries;
• nervous disorders;
• genetic predisposition.

In these cases, the risk of epilepsy increases. And if attacks have bothered a person before, with sleep disturbances and fatigue, their frequency and intensity will increase.

Therapy in childhood

Most often, the first attack of epilepsy in children occurs between the ages of 5 and 10 years. The disease can manifest itself during sleep or just before waking up.

Signs indicating a problem include:

• trembling of the limbs when falling asleep;
• sleepwalking (sleepwalking);
• frequent awakenings accompanied by crying;
• urinary incontinence at night;
• nightmares;
• loss of coordination of movements after waking up.

The disease develops for the following reasons:

• developmental pathologies;
• birth injuries;
• traumatic brain injury;
• infectious diseases;
• hereditary factor.

The following types of drugs are used in the treatment of the disease:

1. Nootropic drugs. Allows you to normalize processes in the brain.
2. Anticonvulsant drugs. They affect the focus of brain activity and prevent convulsions, and also inhibit increased impulses that lead to nervous overexcitation.
3. Psychotropic medications. They are used in cases where the child suffers from increased excitability.

In severe cases of the disease, neurosurgical intervention is performed.

Forms of parasomnia attacks

Night attacks are divided into the following types:

• Parasomnias. In this case, involuntary shuddering of the lower extremities occurs. Upon awakening, their temporary immobility is noticed.
• Sleepwalking. This type of parasomnia occurs mainly in childhood and ends with adulthood. In this case, the child suffers from nightmares and urinary incontinence. If sleepwalking does not go away with age, then a person in this state may cause bodily harm to himself and exhibit aggressive behavior during awakening. After a person wakes up, he does not remember what happened to him. The brain cannot control such a manifestation as urinary incontinence. When full, the bladder empties automatically, but the child does not understand that he wants to go to the toilet and does not have time to wake up. This syndrome most often occurs in boys under 14 years of age.

Features of diagnostic measures

The symptoms of epilepsy in adults are so pronounced that in most cases a correct diagnosis can be made without the use of complex diagnostic techniques

However, you should pay attention to the fact that you should undergo examination no earlier than two weeks after the first attack

During diagnostic procedures, it is very important to identify the absence of diseases that cause similar symptoms. Most often, this disease manifests itself in people who have reached old age.

Most often, this disease manifests itself in people who have reached old age.

In order to identify the cause of the disease, you should consult a doctor who will not only take an anamnesis, but also conduct a thorough diagnosis of the whole body. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor must study the clinical picture, identify the frequency of seizures and conduct magnetic resonance imaging of the brain

Since, depending on the form of pathology, the clinical manifestations of the disease can differ significantly, it is very important to conduct a comprehensive examination of the body and identify the main cause of the development of epilepsy

Diagnostics

If a patient experiences epileptic seizures at night, he should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Since this disease is considered neurological, it is necessary to see a neurologist.

The doctor will examine the patient and listen to his complaints. To make a correct diagnosis, he will ask some questions:

1. When was the first attack?
2. Have similar problems happened in the past?
3. How often do seizures occur?
4. What can trigger them?
5. Are there any other complaints?
6. Has the patient had any head injuries?

Having received the answers, the specialist will be able to quickly understand the diagnosis. To clarify it, you need to go through:

• MRI of the brain;
• night EEG monitoring;
• sleep deprivation test;
• electroencephalography.

After studying the research results, the doctor will prescribe treatment. Usually, special medications are used to control attacks.

Seizures in children, as a rule, are noticed by parents immediately, but adults may not know about the presence of a problem for quite a long time, especially if they live alone.

They need to be attentive to their health, and if stains of saliva and urine appear on the bed, visit a neurologist.

Sleep and epilepsy

A good night's sleep is important for everyone, but it's even more important if you have epilepsy. The reasons for this are twofold: seizures can prevent you from getting the quality sleep you need, and sleep deprivation can cause you to have more seizures. It's a vicious cycle, especially if you don't yet realize that your seizures are affecting the quantity and quality of your sleep.

Why is there such a strong connection between sleep and epilepsy? Seizures, like epilepsy, cause your brain, the organ that regulates your sleep, to misfire. So when your brain malfunctions due to seizures, your sleep suffers. And when your sleep suffers, your brain is more vulnerable to the malfunction that causes seizures. Some seizures, such as those in benign rolandic epilepsy and temporal lobe epilepsy, occur while you are sleeping. In others, such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and epilepsy with awakening seizures, it occurs during awakening from sleep. Either way, your sleep suffers. In fact, you may have trouble sleeping at night even when you don't have a seizure.

To complicate matters, the medications you take to help with cramps may make you very tired and even affect the quality of your sleep. Some epilepsy medications, such as clonazepam, phenobarbital, and valproate, can have a sedating effect, which may make you sleepier than usual. Many of the new epilepsy medications are less likely to cause sedation, so talk to your doctor about switching if you think your medications are making you more tired than usual.

Strategies to Improve Sleep Quality

Making adjustments to your medication, avoiding known seizure triggers, and working closely with your doctor are critical to your health.

It's also important to follow these tips to help you sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed:

• Get enough sleep. This seems obvious, but the fact is that most of us simply don't get enough sleep. A recent survey showed that approximately two-thirds of Russians are not satisfied with their sleep needs during the week. The average adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best, and children 5 to 10 years of age need 10 or 11 hours of sleep. If you are sleep deprived, your brain will be more irritated, and an inflamed brain can cause seizures. So first of all: sleep more.
• Treat any other sleep problems. Some studies have shown that people with epilepsy have sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia. Having a sleep disorder is a double whammy for you: if your brain is irritated by not sleeping all night long, it can trigger more seizures. Know the signs: Feeling extra tired during the day, snoring, or waking up frequently at night may signal a sleep disorder. If you suffer from a sleep disorder, treating and managing insomnia will help calm your brain and also improve the treatment of epilepsy.
• Train your brain. Developing good sleep habits and creating an environment that promotes sleep is key to getting quality rest. Keep your bedroom dark and quiet. Turn off all electronics, including your TV, cell phone, handheld video games, tablet and computer—they all emit light, which reduces melatonin, a hormone produced by your brain that helps you sleep. Having a simple routine that you follow each night—whether it's taking a bath or taking a few minutes of deep breathing—can help train your body and mind when it's time to go to bed.

Symptoms

The main symptom of nocturnal epilepsy is seizures that occur only during sleep and awakening. Also, epilepsy during sleep can manifest itself as follows:

• nausea and vomiting;
• convulsions;
• shiver;
• talking in your sleep;
• sleepwalking;
• sleep problems
• nightmares;
• tension of all muscles;
• involuntary urination;
• frequent awakenings for no reason;
• dysarthria.

In some cases, distortion of the face and eyes is noticed. The patient may move involuntarily in his sleep, get on all fours, and make other movements. The attacks do not take long and can last about 10 seconds.

Duration and frequency of seizures

Most people believe that an epileptic attack looks like this: the patient’s cry, loss of consciousness and a person’s fall, muscle spasms, shaking, subsequent calming down and restful sleep. However, convulsions do not always affect the entire human body, just as the patient does not always lose consciousness during seizures.

To increase the percentage of diagnosis of status epilepticus, time lasting more than 30 minutes, which was previously considered the norm for it, it was decided to reduce it to 10 minutes in order to avoid wasted time. With untreated generalized statuses lasting an hour or more, there is a high risk of irreversible damage to the patient’s brain and even death. At the same time, the heart rate and body temperature increase. Generalized status epilepticus can develop for several reasons at once, including traumatic brain injury, rapid withdrawal of anticonvulsant medications, and so on.

However, the vast majority of epileptic seizures resolve within 1-2 minutes. After the completion of a generalized attack, the patient may develop a postictal state with deep sleep, confusion, headache and muscle pain, lasting from a couple of minutes to several hours. Sometimes Todd's palsy occurs, which is a neurological deficit of a transient nature, expressed by weakness in the limb, which is opposite in location to the focus of electrical pathological activity.

Best materials of the month

• Why you can't go on a diet on your own
• How to keep vegetables and fruits fresh: simple tricks
• How to curb your sweet cravings: 7 unexpected products
• Scientists say youth can be extended

In most patients, it is impossible to find any neurological disorders in the periods between attacks, even if the use of anticonvulsants actively inhibits the function of the central nervous system. Any decrease in mental functions is associated primarily with neurological pathology, which initially led to the occurrence of seizures, and not with the seizures themselves. Very rarely, there are cases of non-stop seizures, as is the case with status epilepticus.

Consequences and complications

If you start treating the disease in time and protect your sleeping place, then complications and consequences can be avoided. But you should know that the disease is dangerous:

• injuries;
• chronic lack of sleep;
• daytime lethargy and drowsiness;
• attacks at other times of the day;
• nightmares ;
• oxygen starvation;
• muscle pain
• unwell ;
• decreased immunity.

Despite the fact that the disease does not have a high risk of development, it should not be left completely unattended. You need to undergo a full diagnosis, adjust your lifestyle and follow the doctor’s recommendations.

Treatment methods and consequences

Clinical manifestations of nocturnal epilepsy resemble symptoms of a common sleep disorder. To confirm the diagnosis, electroencephalography or video monitoring is prescribed. Research is carried out while the patient is asleep. This makes it possible to identify the focus of the disease (the area of ​​the brain where excessive activity occurs during an attack) and establish the form of epilepsy.

Helping a sick person

The patient’s condition after an attack depends on the assistance provided. To minimize the risk of negative consequences, you must:

1. Place the patient on a flat surface with a blanket under his back.
2. Unbutton the victim's clothes.
3. Place a soft object in his mouth: a napkin, a handkerchief.
4. Turn the patient's head to the side: this will prevent vomit and saliva from entering the respiratory tract and causing asphyxia.
5. Hold the person's legs and arms without resisting the cramps.
6. Call an ambulance.

You should also not forcibly hold the patient’s tongue or give him water or any medications. Such actions can lead to negative consequences.

If after examination the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is prescribed nootropics (Encephabol, Cerebrolysin) and anticonvulsants (Depakine, Carbamazepine). When the cause of epilepsy is an infectious disease or inflammation of the meninges, antibiotics are also prescribed.

Medications are started with small doses: they cause daytime sleepiness. Then the dosage of medications is gradually increased. After achieving the effect of therapy, the use of medications is stopped.

Forecasts and recommendations for prevention

Sleep epilepsy is a highly treatable disease. But the danger of the disease lies in the fact that symptoms appear at night. This increases the likelihood of negative consequences. Complications of convulsive crises may include:

• tongue retraction;
• aspiration pneumonia;
• bleeding;
• head injury;
• respiratory arrest;
• coma;
• death.

In addition, nocturnal epilepsy leads to a deterioration in general condition. There is a feeling of weakness in the body, dizziness (during the day), and a feeling of exhaustion.

This leads to an increase in attacks during sleep, a decrease in the patient’s ability to work and quality of life in general. Epileptic seizures in children negatively affect their academic performance and overall development

Therefore, it is important to notice the presence of the disease in time and begin taking therapeutic measures.

With timely and properly selected treatment, the prognosis is favorable: it is possible to reduce the frequency of attacks or achieve complete remission of the disease.

If you have previously experienced epilepsy attacks during sleep, it is recommended:

1. Go to bed and wake up at the same time (lack of sleep increases the likelihood of attacks in the morning or afternoon).
2. Avoid mental and emotional stress before bedtime.
3. Close the curtains at night.
4. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol, strong coffee and tea, and sedatives.
5. Sleeping on a small pillow: This reduces the risk of suffocation during a seizure.

Epilepsy and sleep are closely related to each other: night cramps lead to the development of insomnia in the patient and decreased ability to work, and the lack of proper rest provokes an increase in the frequency of seizures. Therefore, if you suspect a disease or sleep disorder, you should immediately consult a doctor: he will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment.

Forecast and preventive measures

Nocturnal epilepsy is considered a mild form of this disease, which in most cases can be easily treated with conservative treatment. In the absence of complications, 80% of patients are permanently free from attacks.

The prognosis is not so favorable if pathological changes in the brain are detected during the diagnostic process. But even in these cases, the patient has enough chances to recover and lead a full life subsequently.

To prevent attacks of nocturnal epilepsy or reduce their intensity and frequency, the following preventive measures must be observed:

1. Go to bed and get up at the same time.
2. Sleep at least 8 hours a day.
3. In the evening, avoid watching TV, computer games and telephone conversations.
4. Go to bed in a calm and relaxed state.
5. Sleep in a room with the curtains drawn so that the rays of the morning sun do not disturb the peace.
6. Quit alcohol and smoking.
7. Avoid stress, physical and mental overload.
8. Follow all instructions of the attending physician.
9. If signs of worsening appear, seek medical attention.

By following these recommendations, you can reduce the risk of recurrent attacks to a minimum.

Epilepsy in adolescents

Adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood.
Teenagers are trying to change their lifestyle, are at home less often than before, and actively communicate with peers rather than with parents. During adolescence, people develop hobbies (driving, discos, video games) and first sexual relationships. In an effort to conform to adults, adolescents often adopt the habits of adults (drink alcohol, try smoking, etc.) and become involved in risky behavior that differs from normal behavior.

Everyone, even completely healthy teenagers, experiences difficulties adapting to this new social status, but such difficulties can be aggravated if epilepsy is detected in teenagers.

Prevention

Prevention of nocturnal epilepsy is as follows:

• Proper nutrition.
• Active lifestyle.
• Elimination of alcohol.
• Walks in the open air.
• Elimination of stress, nervous tension, depression.
• Refusal of night shifts, round-the-clock work.

And most importantly, we need to improve night sleep as much as possible and make sure that the person gets enough sleep. To do this, you can ventilate the room, choose the right bedding, mattress and pillow, do not wear uncomfortable night clothes, do not overeat before bed, and drink a glass of warm milk.

It is also recommended to use herbal teas with mint, thyme, and chamomile before bed. This will help relieve stress after a hard day and relax before bed, which is important.

What is the difference between fear and nightmare

A nightmare is a common and unpleasant occurrence. It can be caused even by simply watching a series where a boy got lost and couldn’t find his way home. If your child, while watching, empathized with the hero and wanted to help him in every possible way, then it is not surprising that in a dream he will see a situation in which he himself will become the main character;

Night fears in children are of a completely different nature and will not be associated with vivid impressions. Unfortunately, this pathology has a completely scientific explanation - parasomnia, in which the baby experiences not only horror, but also hysterics. At this moment, he is not fully awake, and his actions often frighten his parents:

1. A piercing scream;
2. Chaotic movements;
3. Doesn't recognize mom or dad.

Children most often suffer from parasomnia, although adults also have nightmares. How to determine that your baby is experiencing fear and not just having a nightmare:

• Having woken up and calmed the child, ask him about what he dreamed. If the baby has experienced a nightmare, then he will be able to retell everything he saw to you;
• the retelling of the dream will be vivid and associated with any threat to the safety or life of both the baby and family members;
• as soon as the child is fully awake, his thoughts and actions will be clear and clear;
• You can put your child to sleep again, even if you have to spend some time.

Therapy

Nocturnal epilepsy is one of the simplest forms of the disease and treatment is not particularly difficult. But if the patient does not want to take special medications prescribed by the doctor, then, most likely, attacks will begin to appear during the daytime and the disease will develop into a more complex form.

Antiepileptic drugs are mainly prescribed, where the dosage is calculated for each patient individually, calculating the frequency of attacks and the duration of their duration.

During therapy, you must follow some rules:

• If you feel drowsy during the day after taking medications and have insomnia at night, you should definitely consult a doctor and tell him about it. Most likely, the drug will be changed to another
• It is advisable to go to at the same time and not violate this schedule. The patient should get enough sleep to avoid daytime manifestations of the disease.
• It is forbidden to take caffeine and sedatives - this can negatively affect the entire treatment and interfere with positive results.

It is also worth taking care of safety rules.

Causes of epilepsy

The appearance of epilepsy attacks in children is caused by the emergence of foci of bioelectrical excitation in different parts of the brain. At the same time, waves and discharges of different frequencies are formed in the brain cells that are located in epileptic foci. They occur under certain conditions or under the influence of provoking factors.

At the same time, bioelectric discharges intensify and accumulate in certain areas of the cerebral cortex.

One of the factors is considered to be heredity - a number of forms of epilepsy are inherited.

Hereditary predisposition

To date, the hereditary nature of certain forms of the disease has been proven and specific genes have been discovered that are responsible for the development of epilepsy and the occurrence of seizures.

Therefore, one of the main reasons for the development of epilepsy is considered to be damage to the nerve cells of the brain during pregnancy:

• disruption of the formation of brain tissue with the development of congenital anomalies in newborns under the influence of various damaging factors on the fetus (alcohol and nicotine, occupational hazards, taking medications or drugs);
• for various diseases of the mother during pregnancy (flu, rubella, hepatitis) or for severe purulent-septic diseases (sore throat, pneumonia, pleurisy, pyelonephritis);
• with the development of intrauterine infections (toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus infection, chlamydia);
• with injuries to the fetal head, even minor ones;
• with circulatory disorders in the placenta and a constant lack of oxygen supply to the nerve cells of the fetus (with pathology of the placenta or umbilical vein, with heart defects, diabetes, respiratory diseases in the expectant mother);
• for severe toxicosis, especially in the second half of pregnancy.

Epilepsy can develop due to pathological damage to the nerve cells of the baby’s brain during difficult childbirth with the occurrence of birth injuries:

• during prolonged labor with a long anhydrous period, as well as when using obstetric aids to remove it (obstetric forceps, vacuum);
• at the birth of a baby with breathing problems (asphyxia), with the umbilical cord tightly entwined around the newborn’s neck and other pathologies during childbirth;
• with the pathological effect of anesthesia on the nerve cells of the fetus during cesarean section.

Therefore, the disease often (“debut”) or the first symptoms of epilepsy appear in children under two to three years of age.

Epilepsy in children can also occur:

What is epilepsy

Epilepsy attacks often occur at night. In this case, a group of neurons in the focus of excitation is activated. This provokes the appearance of convulsive syndrome. Epileptic seizures occur more mildly during sleep. Depending on the period of sleep the seizures occur, the following types of seizures are distinguished:

• Generalized. Characteristic of the period of awakening. At the same time, patients shudder. This form of seizures occurs in people of different ages. Goes away on its own without treatment. One of the reasons for the development is considered to be a failure of the nervous system, which is eliminated with age.
• Frontal. The pathological focus is localized in the frontal parts of the brain. Cramps occur during sleep. This form of epilepsy is hereditary. Characteristic of adolescence. Among the causes of frontal lobe epilepsy are the effects of psycho-emotional stress.

Expert opinion

Author: Georgy Romanovich Popov

Neurologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences

Epilepsy is one of the common neurological pathologies. Doctors distinguish different forms of seizures. One of them is sleep epilepsy. According to statistics, nocturnal attacks occur in 30% of patients. Convulsions during sleep are characterized by less severity compared to other forms of the disease. Nocturnal epilepsy is typical for children over 5 years of age. In rare cases, the disease will persist into adulthood.

Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital carry out a full range of diagnostic measures necessary to detect nocturnal seizures. For this, modern methods are used - EEG, CT, MRI. Based on the examination results, neurologists and epileptologists at the Yusupov Hospital develop an individual treatment plan. The drugs used are included in the list of the latest European standards for the treatment of nocturnal epilepsy. In addition, patients are provided with personalized preventive recommendations to reduce the risk of developing relapses of convulsive syndrome during sleep. The hospital's doctors treat both adults and children. An individual approach allows you to achieve positive results in a minimum amount of time.