December 20, 2024, 4:10 p.m.
The Hospitalist Team
When your child exhibits a new concerning health symptom, it’s natural to worry. And if you’ve recently observed your child having staring spells, sudden jerking movements, fainting episodes or confusion, you might be wondering if the cause could be epilepsy, a neurological condition that includes seizures. Understanding the signs and symptoms of seizures can help you as you talk to your child’s pediatrician.
First, know that anyone can have a seizure when the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain are interrupted. A high fever, low blood sugar or a concussion can all lead to a seizure. It’s when children have two or more seizures that aren’t due to fever, low blood sugar or a concussion, that we start to look at a cause of epilepsy.
You might be wondering how you know if your child is having a seizure. Children can experience different symptoms with varying degrees, but look for these common signs:
- Rapid eye blinking or blank staring
- Jerking arm and leg movements or stiffening of the body
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Breathing problems or pauses in breathing
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness
- Not responding to noise or words for a short time, or appearing confused
- Nodding the head rhythmically
It’s also common for children to get sleepy or confused after an epilepsy episode.
There are many things that can be confused for seizures in children. In young children, breath-holding spells, certain behavioral habits and shuddering are commonly mistaken for seizures. Sometimes parents will catch their children’s eyes rolling upward while falling asleep and mistake that for a seizure as well. In both younger and older children, twitching while sleeping, passing out or nearly passing out, and migraines are common concerns of parents.
If you suspect your child is experiencing seizures, consult your child’s pediatrician for guidance. If your child has been diagnosed with epilepsy, the Washington University Pediatric Epilepsy Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital can help. Our team of experts is committed to helping children decrease or eliminate their seizure symptoms and live full lives.
