My Account Pediatric Epilepsy Center
Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, most commonly begins in childhood, with causes and symptoms differing from child to child. This requires a precise diagnosis and tailor-made treatment to achieve the most effective results.
Diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, especially epilepsy, require a committed and experienced team of care providers.
- Our specialists: our Pediatric Neurologists, Pediatric Neurosurgeons, Pediatric Rehab Doctors, Pediatric Physiotherapists and our Pediatric Nutritionists work in sync to provide each child the most effective and comprehensive treatment. Our specialists have been educated locally and internationally and have extensive experience.
- Our comprehensive medical investigation: this includes Computer Tomography (CT) brain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain with special epilepsy protocol, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and long-term Electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring equipment to provide the most accurate epilepsy diagnosis and determine its cause.
- Full treatment options: we provide well rounded, efficient, effective and tailor-made treatments for our patients. Both specific treatment and supportive treatment including rehabilitation and development stimulation are available. Various advanced alternative treatment options for drug-resistant epilepsy are offered including Ketogenic diets and curative and palliative epilepsy surgery such as Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS).
- Complete facility: our EEG Monitoring Unit (EMU) allows for long-term seizure monitoring with simultaneous video to help us provide tailor-made alternative treatment options for drug-resistant epilepsy, such as epilepsy surgery. After surgery, our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU Level 3) is considered the highest level of intensive care available to pediatric patients. Recovery and intensive rehabilitation are important keys to achieve the best quality of life, and in this arena we have been recognized as Best Physiotherapist by the Middle East Healthcare Leadership Awards.
How is Pediatric Epilepsy Diagnosed and Treated?
Diagnosis
Our experienced pediatric neurologists require the patient’s medical history and details of the symptoms they have faced which, together with a comprehensive neurological examination to fully understand their condition, will be used to recommend tests best suited for their condition.
An Electroencephalogram (EEG) is the most common test to identify seizure type in epilepsy patients. During the test, electrodes are affixed to the patient’s scalp to record the brain’s electrical activity.
Our specialist may also recommend a CT or MRI scan of the brain to help reach a more accurate diagnosis and in order to identify the exact seizure points.
Our long-term EEG Monitoring Unit (EMU) monitors patients with multiple seizure types or candidates who are suited for surgical treatment. Patients are continuously monitored using EEG to observe brain function and maturity, and identify all seizure points.
Patients with drug resistant forms of epilepsy or other forms of the condition, including those with underlying symptoms, must undergo long-term EEG screening to identify the root cause of their seizures. Doing so can be extremely beneficial in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
Genetic Testing
Some types of epilepsy require additional genetic testing to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Samitivej Children’s Hospital has such testing available, which is highly accurate and thorough in detecting a multitude of genetic disorders. Genetic testing can also be of benefit to parents who are planning on having more children.
Treatment Options
- Medication
Treatment most commonly begins with an anti-seizure medication (ASM) as it is the least invasive, with 60 to 70% of pediatric patients responding to the first ASM. - Ketogenic diet & modified Atkins diet
The ketogenic diet is a high fat, adequate protein and very low carbohydrate diet. It works by changing how the brain produces energy to function. Although the mechanism is poorly understood, ketogenic diets have successfully reduced seizures in many patients since the 1920’s.
In our hospital the ketogenic diet team that monitors the child’s progress includes highly experienced pediatric neurologists, pediatric nutritionists and well trained nurses. - Surgical Treatments
Surgical options are recommended for drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients and should be extremely tailor-made depending on the individual child’s condition. After collecting all of the data via EGG monitoring or, if needed, MRI and/or PET scans, we will only proceed if we can find the spot that produces seizure discharge and can get rid of it with minimal side effects. - Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS)
Our hospital has VNS which is considered an advanced alternative option for drug resistant epilepsy, epilepsy with multiple seizure spots, or epilepsy with unidentifiable seizure spots. This device shortens a seizure’s duration, frequency and severity, depending on the type of seizures that the child has been facing.
Physical and occupational therapy
Some children will experience temporary motor deficits after surgery. This requires optimal preoperative, postoperative and follow-up care, and is the main reason that rehabilitation is an important part of the treatment process for epileptic children. Our Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists Teams work closely with the patient and their family as soon as they are cleared after neurosurgery. Our treatment goal is to maximize cognitive function and obtain the best quality of life for children with epilepsy.
Samitivej Hospital won the ‘Best Hospital in Pediatrics and Best Physiotherapist’ Award from Middle East Healthcare in 2016 and 2017
Children with less severe cases may fully recover after 2 years of medication, but for some complex cases they may need lifelong medication. In the latter case, those with focal seizure whose symptoms may be controlled with ASM may also opt for surgery as a treatment option, allowing a reduction in medication and complications in some children.
Our experienced pediatric neurologists provide proper assistance to all our patients, physically and virtually. The patient and caretakers can discuss their situation with us before they visit through the hospital’s virtual consultation channel to save time and effort and to quickly begin receiving proper treatment.
Samitivej has a team ready to help and provide services for:
- Treatment Plan Consultation with a doctor via online video-call (second opinion)
- Treatment Planning if you have medical records or a price estimate from another hospital
- Cost Planning by our Appraisals Team with price guarantee (only for procedure packages without complications)
- Check Initial Coverage Eligibility with Thai and international insurance companies (only for insurance companies under contract with the Hospital)
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