Epilepsy in Children: What Every Parent Needs to Know

by Orrin Devinsky MD, Erin Conway MS, RN, CPNP, Courtney Schnabel Glick MS, RD, CDN

Overview

From a leading neurologist, experienced nurse practitioner, and registered dietitian comes the complete guide to managing your child's life with epilepsy.Epilepsy in Children offers the practical advice and information you need to respond to your child's seizures safely and effectively, understand the latest treatment options, and find hope for a seizure-free future.

• Get the right diagnosis for your child and the correct treatment to reduce the frequency of seizures faster
• Learn the benefits and risks of pharmaceutical, surgical, and alternative therapies, including the ketogenic diet
• Help your child maintain a normal life at school, with friends, and in sports and other activities
• Navigate the transitions from infancy and childhood to puberty and becoming a young adult

"Epilepsy in Children is an indispensable starting point and guide for parents and families. Orrin Devinsky is a leading clinician, researcher, and teacher who takes down walls and engages deeply with patients and families. He and his colleagues have created a resource that is clearly written and yet covers the breadth of epilepsies, therapies, and resources available."

WARREN LAMMERT, CHAIRMAN OF THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"When a child is first diagnosed, it's a bleak, isolating time for families. This book sheds light in the darkest corners and gives parents a crucial playbook to help both their children and themselves. The authors leverage their medical, nursing, and nutrition backgrounds to address the most difficult issues with a uniquely collaborative approach. It's a game changer."

KATE COONEY PICCO, PARENT

"As an advocate, I am grateful that Orrin Devinsky has taken his immense talent and decades of experience to help parents address the critical and diverse needs of children with epilepsy. As the father of a child with epilepsy, there are no words adequate for me to thank him for dedicating his life to helping our children. In Epilepsy in Children Dr. Devinsky and his team give families an opportunity to transform a sense of fear, isolation, and helplessness, into hope, confidence, and strength.

PHILIP M. GATTONE, MEd., PRESIDENT AND CEO, EPILEPSY FOUNDATION

ORRIN DEVINSKY, MD, is a professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, and director of the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers and the Saint Barnabas Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN). He has published widely on the subject of epilepsy, with more than 400 articles and chaptersand more than 20 books and monographs. He has served on the board of the National Epilepsy Foundation and the American Epilepsy Society. He cofounded epilepsy.com, the Epilepsy Therapy Project, and the journals Epilepsy and Behavior and Reviews in Neurological Diseases.

ERIN CONWAY, MS, RN, CPNP is a pediatric nurse practitioner at the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.

COURTNEY S CHNABEL GLICK, MS, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian at the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936303786
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	12/02/2015
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Orrin Devinsky, MD, is a professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, and director of the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers and the Saint Barnabas Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN).

Erin Conway, MS, RN, CPNP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner at the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.

Courtney Schnabel Glick, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian at the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Part 1 Understanding Epilepsy 1

Chapter 1 What Is Epilepsy? An Overview 3

Chapter 2 What Kind of Seizure Is It? A Guide 7

Chapter 3 Types of Epilepsy: Your Child's Syndrome 19

Chapter 4 Causes of Epilepsy 39

Part 2 Diagnosis and Treatment of Epilepsy 49

Chapter 5 The First and Second Seizures: Diagnosing Epilepsy 51

Chapter 6 Is It Epilepsy? Disorders and Behaviors That Mimic Epilepsy 67

Chapter 7 The Health Care Team 77

Chapter 8 What's Next? Prognosis for Children with Epilepsy 85

Chapter 9 Principles of Drug Therapy for Epilepsy 91

Chapter 10 Drugs Used for Treating Epilepsy 117

Chapter 11 Special Diets for Epilepsy 143

Chapter 12 Epilepsy and General Nutrition 157

Chapter 13 Complementary and Alternative Therapies 169

Chapter 14 Surgical Therapy for Epilepsy 181

Part 3 Raising a Child with Epilepsy 199

Chapter 15 Telling Others about Epilepsy 201

Chapter 16 Parenting a Child with Epilepsy 207

Chapter 17 Epilepsy Issues at Different Ages 215

Chapter 18 Intellectual and Behavioral Development 221

Chapter 19 Education and Children with Epilepsy 235

Chapter 20 Camps and Sports 239

Chapter 21 Your Child's Future with Epilepsy: Driving, Work, Marriage, Parenthood 243

Chapter 22 Getting Information and Getting Involved: Epilepsy Resources 255

Appendix A The Brain and How It Works 263

Appendix B First Aid for Seizures 273

Appendix C Antiepileptic Drug Interactions 275

Appendix D Information about Your Child for School Nurse and School Staff 285

Appendix E Seizure Action Plan for Students 289

Index 291

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Anne Turner-Henson, PhD, RN, FAAN (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Description: A great resource for parents, this is a comprehensive review of epilepsy in children.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a guide for parents who have children with epilepsy. The book examines the types of epilepsy, compares epilepsy to seizures/seizure disorders, and describes the physiology/structure of the brain, etiologies of epilepsy, and management.
Audience: Although primarily a parental guide, this book also would be helpful for family members (e.g., grandparents) or informal caregivers (e.g., babysitters, nannies, etc.). The book may also be helpful for nurses and social workers. The authors bring a rich and deep knowledge from research and clinical practice to this book.
Features: As parents become more active participants in their children's healthcare, this book provides a clear explanation of epilepsy ranging from brain anatomy/physiology, types of epilepsy, and management. Of particular significance are the discussions of dietary management and medication management. The authors provide an unbiased discussion of cannabis. The appendixes are helpful, but perhaps the publisher could provide websites that contain similar information (e.g., handouts for teachers, etc.). The authors discuss epilepsy in adolescents, but fail to address clearly the developmental considerations for other age groups.
Assessment: As parents become more active participants in their children's healthcare, this book provides a clear explanation of epilepsy ranging from brain anatomy/physiology to types of epilepsy and management.

Doody's Review Service