Discharge Instructions for Pediatric Epilepsy
Your child has been diagnosed with epilepsy, a disorder characterized by seizures, brief electrical disturbances in the brain. There are different kinds of seizures, and each child’s seizures are unique. Here's what you need to know about home care.
General Guidelines
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Help your child enjoy normal activities. Most children with epilepsy lead normal lives.
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Ask your doctor about any restrictions on your child’s activities.
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Don’t let your child swim alone or participate in other similar activities without others nearby.
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Give your child the medication exactly as directed. Skipping doses can alter blood levels of the medication and may produce a seizure.
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Don’t give your child any over-the-counter medication without talking with your doctor first.
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Give your child a medical alert pendant to wear. Ask your doctor how to get one if you aren’t sure.
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Learn CPR.
Protecting Your Child During a Seizure
Take the following steps to protect your child when he or she has a seizure:
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Stay calm, and stay with your child.
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Do what you can to prevent injury, but don't restrain movement, which can actually cause injury to you or your child.
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Move sharp or hard objects away from your child.
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Place a flat, soft object under your child's head to cushion the head.
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Attempt to roll your child onto his or her side.
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Loosen tight clothing.
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Have someone call 911 (or your local emergency number) if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes. Don’t leave your child alone.
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Don’t put anything in your child's mouth and don't try to hold the tongue. It is impossible to swallow the tongue.
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Don't give your child medications or liquids during a seizure.
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Don’t panic. It is normal to turn slightly blue or pale during a seizure. And, in most cases, seizures last fewer than 3 minutes. They usually just stop on their own.
After a Seizure
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Let your child sleep after a seizure. It’s normal for the child to be sleepy.
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Notify your child's doctor when seizures have happened.
Follow-Up
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Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.
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Keep all scheduled appointments with your child’s doctor even if seizures are controlled. Regular visits will help to find any side effects your child may be having from the medication.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Call the doctor right away if your child has any of the following:
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Seizures that occur more often or are different
than those your child has experienced in the past
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Trouble breathing
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Rash
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Fever of 101.4°F or higher
