Concerned mom

[melanne02]

I have a 10 month old daughter who had a 15 minute seizure last week.  We went to the ER and they did a CT Scan, blood work, and urinalysis and all came back negative for anything.  So I followed up with her pediatrician who sent us to do an EEG...they just called and told me that she had an abnormality in her results showing some spiking in her right temporal lobe.  Could someone help me understand what this means?  Does it mean that she has epilepsy?  The doctor was very short and didn't want to give me any information over the phone, but they don't have an available appointment for 2 weeks.  I just want to prepare myself and my family of what the outcome could be.  Thank you!

[melanne02]

Sorry to take so long to get back online.  We have been in and out of hospitals and doctor's offices since this happened.  She hasn't had any more seizures...or at least that we've noticed.  We did have her under observation for 24-hour EEG in which she had 2 generalized episodes, one lasting 2 seconds and the other lasting 4 seconds.  Neither myself nor my husband even noticed this.  The Neurologist that we saw didn't give me any explanation except that she will be having more seizures throughout her life.  He also said that she doesn't weigh enough to give her Diastat yet.  She's still under 20 pounds.  

Her seizure that I witnessed began with a frightened look on her face and she stopped breathing for a second.  She then her entire body began shaking.  Her eyes rolled back into her head and she began drooling very badly.  After the shaking stopped she seemed disconnected with everything...not even knowing who I was.  She just seemed like she was in a trance.  At the ER they did some blood work (didn't give me the results), urinalysis and CT Scan.  They said everything was normal.  That's why they did the original EEG.  We are going to be having an MRI done soon, we're just waiting on the Pediatric Hospital to give us a time that we can go in and get that done.  She seems to be acting herself...except a lot more fussy.  She used to never cry and now it seems that she's crying a lot more frequently.  

[JainMD]

Hi,
How is your daughter feeling now?
Did she have any further seizure?
In the pediatric age group there are lots of causes for seizures.
Seizures are common in pediatric age group and occur in approximately 10% of children. Most seizures are provoked by body disorders originating outside the brain, such as high fever, infection, syncope, head trauma; shortness of breath for want of oxygen can also cause seizure, or cardiac abnormalities.
What is the type of seizures, focal or generalized? How long was the seizure and was there loss of consciousness during seizure? How was his behavior during and after seizure?
As you said there is an abnormality on EEG on his upper right side of his brain, that suggest there might some seizure disorder, but the pathology for causation of seizure is not known.
What were the other tests done?
What is the level of Serum. Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous and Serum. Sodium in his body?
What is the level of sugars?
I think if there is an abnormality on EEG that suggests an seizure disorder, but that does not say that she has epilepsy, though she shoudl be definitely on anti-epileptics.
Keep me informed if you have any query.
Bye.

[Nicole1111]

I'm not a doctor so I hope one answers your post to make you feel better!  I'll just pass along all of the information I learned on my journey with my son whose seizures started at 11 mos and were extremely long.

I do know that neither an abnormal EEG nor a single seizure alone is enough to diagnose epilepsy.  Many people with abnormal EEGs never have any symptoms of it (me,) or have 1 seizure their entire life.  On the other hand, many epileptics have completely normal EEGs (my son.)  

However, since there has been a seizure and an abnormal EEG, the risk for another seizure is a bit higher than if the EEG had been normal.  You'll want to monitor your daughter carefully with it in the back of your mind.  She may very well never have another seizure in her life!  But she may have one, and you'll want to be prepared mentally for this.  The risk of seizures is highest during toddlerhood and adolescence, when the brain is growing and changing hormonally  

For what it's worth, a long first seizure does not increase the likelihood of seizure recurrence, but if another one does happen it is likely to be long as well.  Do you have rectal Diastat to stop another prolonged seizure?  

I hope you're getting some sleep:  the unknown is the toughest part of this battle!  Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!