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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Are son's headaches and mood changes related to seizures?
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Are son's headaches and mood changes related to seizures?
by JGriffith, Jul 14, 2002 12:00AM
My 13 year old son has had headaches (usually severe) for several years, often causing him to miss a lot of school. Recently they began to occur more often, sometimes twice in a week. My pediatrician ordered an EEG, CT scan, and blood work, all of which were normal except for the EEG which stated "This is an abnormal EEG due to generalized bursts of frontally predominant 3-4 polyspike, spike and slow wave discharges. Also, "There is occasional bursts of 3-4 Hz frontally predominant poly spike and slow wave discharges noted from the beginning of the study, the longest one for 3 sec." Photic stimulation and hyperventilation seemed OK. We have been asked by the neurologist to keep track of seizure episodes, but have no idea what we are looking for. Is it possible that he has had this so long, we are used to it? Could the headaches be causing the seizures or vice versa? Could mood changes such as going from a quiet, sweet child, to a crying, angry child for no reason be a symptom? He says he can tell when a headache is coming because he starts feeling angry about little things and finally explodes. After these episodes, he will sleep for hours, sometimes from late afternoon until the next day. He is not on medication yet, but we return to neurologist after 30 day period in the next few days and I don't know what to tell him. I feel so stupid. Please help me.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Jul 16, 2002 12:00AM
Your frustration and concern over your son's condition are understandable. First and foremost, if the EEG was correctly interpreted it is likely that your son has a generalized epilepsy syndrome. There are many types but two things you can look for are episodes of complete loss of consciousness with loss of bladder control, shaking, tongue biting (the grand mal seizure that the public is familiar with). And then there's absence seizures that are characterized by very brief seconds of "spacing out" where he can rapidly blink his eyes and lose touch with his environment without completely passing out.Another thing you can do is talk to your son's teachers and ask them if they have noticed daydreaming in school or anything else out of the ordinary which could be seizures.
It's a possibility that the headaches and seizures are related, but it is more likely that the headaches are related to the mood changes. Fortunately,there are some medications that have dual effects against both seizures and headaches. One such is called depakote, a seizure medication used frequently in children which also helps with behavioral problems and headaches.
Your child does need further workup such as a possible MRI and treatment. Talk to your pediatric neuro about your concerns. This is not a simple problem and I'm sure you have many questions about your child. Best of luck.
It's a possibility that the headaches and seizures are related, but it is more likely that the headaches are related to the mood changes. Fortunately,there are some medications that have dual effects against both seizures and headaches. One such is called depakote, a seizure medication used frequently in children which also helps with behavioral problems and headaches.
Your child does need further workup such as a possible MRI and treatment. Talk to your pediatric neuro about your concerns. This is not a simple problem and I'm sure you have many questions about your child. Best of luck.
Take care...
3 days and if his symptoms go down then it is something that
he has eaten.
If not , then it may be a Pinched Nerve in his Backbone and
a Chiropractor may help.