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Treatment of epilepsy in children with developmental disabilities

Dewi Frances T Depositario-Cabacar1, Tesfaye-Getaneh Zelleke

  • 1Neurology and Pediatrics, George Washington University Medical Center, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. DCabacar@cnmc.org

Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews
|October 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with developmental disabilities face a higher risk of epilepsy. Effective treatment requires balancing seizure control with minimizing cognitive and behavioral side effects from antiepileptic drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Epilepsy Management

Background:

  • Children with developmental disabilities exhibit a higher prevalence of epilepsy compared to the general population.
  • Common developmental disorders associated with increased epilepsy risk include autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the features of epilepsy in children with common developmental disabilities.
  • To discuss optimal treatment strategies for epilepsy in this population.
  • To examine the adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs in children with developmental disabilities.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epilepsy in common childhood developmental disorders.
  • Analysis of treatment goals: seizure control, quality of life, and adverse effects.
  • Review of cognitive and behavioral side effects of older and newer antiepileptic drugs.

Main Results:

  • Children with developmental disabilities have a significantly increased risk for epilepsy.
  • Treatment necessitates careful antiepileptic drug selection to minimize adverse cognitive and behavioral effects.
  • Older and newer antiepileptic drugs present distinct side effect profiles in this vulnerable population.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing epilepsy management in children with developmental disabilities requires a nuanced approach.
  • Close monitoring for antiepileptic drug adverse effects is crucial for maintaining quality of life.
  • Individualized treatment plans are essential for effective seizure control and minimizing harm.

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