Abstract
Many providers feel uncomfortable with the recognition of epileptic seizures, the diagnosis and classification of epilepsy syndromes, and initial treatments to offer to patients with epilepsy. Available therapies for children with epilepsy include medical management with antiseizure medications, trial of the ketogenic diet, and evaluation for epilepsy surgeries. This chapter will highlight the diagnostic criteria for epilepsy, common epilepsy syndromes according to the recent updated International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Classification, and when to refer to an epilepsy center for specialized treatments if not readily available such as the ketogenic diet, phase 1 presurgical evaluation, and epilepsy surgery. This chapter will also briefly highlight frequent comorbidities with epilepsy such as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the challenges related to seizure mimics. This chapter will therefore highlight the diagnosis, workup, and management of both medically responsive epilepsy and drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) as well as its comorbidities. This chapter is a comprehensive review of the literature for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and the author’s experience of practice working at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health which is a National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) Level 4 Epilepsy Center.