Seizures- Infant to toddler

[D7313]

I saw a response about what was referred to as benign infantile seizures. My neice has seizures that started at about 2 months old. My sister was told that she would probably grow out of it by the age of 6 months. She is now 2 and a half years old. The description below that I saw on this site sounds like what she is going through:

"It is reassuring that thus far all the tests are normal. What you describe is what we would also call infantile seizures. They are called benign, not because the seizures are not real, but in the vast majority of cases, these seizures will cease in 1 to 2 years. ....... , the seizures seen in benign infantile seizures are often very difficult to control (as you can atest to). Usually, they occur in clusters and can occur every few hours (as you accurately describe)."

She has had numerous tests for various different things, MRIs, spinal tap etc.and nothing has been found.

Another part of the response I saw on this site was:

" We know that in the vast majority of cases, that the child is normal developmentally with this disorder. Most out grow their seizures"

My neice is not normal developmentally. She was put on many different drugs. They would work at first but then seemed to lose effectiveness. One drugged her up so that she just sat there spaced out. She stopped using her right arm. She doesn't speak or crawl.

This past weekend she had a severe seizure that caused her to stop breathing. This hasn't happened before. More tests and still nothing.

What does the fact that she seems to be suspended developmentally imply? She has been checked and her bone structure and muscles are fine. Could she outgrow the seizures and catch up developmentally?

Or is it apparent that this is not the benign infantile seizures?

[D7313]

Thank you.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I understand your concern.  The normal MRI and lumbar tap tests may point out that this is really a seizure disorder.  Seizures are caused by imbalances in the chemicals of the brain and the cause for most of these cannot be fully explained.  If a child has frequent uncontrolled seizures, then this may impact the way her brain is developing since frequent seizures starve the brain of oxygen repeatedly.  I suggest that you discuss with her neurologist if she can be maintained on long-term anti-convulsants for now so as to avert future seizure episodes that can affect her development eventually.  

Regards.