Post-traumatic convulsive syndromes in children

Paroxysmal conditions are found in 8-26 % of children who have traumatic brain injury (TBI). The occurrence of early epileptic seizures after TBI makes the prognosis of the disease less favorable. Purpose was to evaluate the possibility of occurrence in the acute period of post-traumatic epilepsy in children, to study the duration of posttraumatic effects in the longterm, and to substantiate treatment methods and prognosis based on data on the type of TBI, clinical and instrumental examinations. Materials. 81 children with TBI aged from 2 months to18 years were examined. Results. According to diagnostics results was determined the severity of TBI in children: mild was found in 58 % of the cases, moderate – in 19.8 % and severe TBI – in 22.2 %. EEG recording was performed in 39(65 %) boys and 21(35 %) girls with TBI in acute period. The representation of epileptiform activity on the EEG correlated with the severity of the injury. Post-traumatic epilepsy was found in 41.2 % of the cases, and in 23.5 % of the cases there was a risk of its formation. In 34.6 % of the cases, children with TBI were treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). As a result of treatment, seizures stopped in 23 (82.1 %) children with post-traumatic epilepsy, and they continued in 5(17.9 %) children. Main conclusions. Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the consequences of TBI of different severity in children should be carried out taking into account the anamnesis, frequency and structure of post-traumatic seizures, EEG, CT and MRI data. It is advisable to identify convulsive syndromes in children after TBI with a low probability of the occurrence of post-traumatic epilepsy; convulsive syndromes in which post-traumatic epilepsy is more likely to occur; epilepsy.

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