Epilepsy must be treated. In most cases, the sooner the treatment begins, the better is its result and the faster the recovery occurs. A child who is not treated and, accordingly, has a higher risk of a convulsive seizure, is more often injured, he has a higher risk of a sudden fall with loss of consciousness on the street, in an institution, school. There may be serious traffic accidents, falling from the stairs, dangerous self-swimming in a pond or bath.
What are the treatment goals for epilepsy?
Objectives of therapy:
1) complete cessation of seizures (can not always be achieved!);
2) reducing the frequency of attacks with a minimum of side effects of treatment;
3) improving the quality of life of a sick child. The basic principles of treatment of epilepsy
are:
1) treatment with one anticonvulsant drug – monotherapy;
2) the regularity of taking the medication;
3) duration of therapy (at least 3 years);
4) individuality of the selection of drugs.
It is important to note that there is no universal anticonvulsant drug; that
The remedy that helped one patient is not always effective with another. Sometimes it takes considerable time before the correct diagnosis is made and a suitable drug is prescribed, which requires some patience from the patient’s relatives.
The most common mistake in treatment is taking a low, inappropriate dose of an anticonvulsant drug. This creates a false impression of the ineffectiveness of the drug, and the treatment of epilepsy is delayed. The dose of the drug is calculated by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account body weight (mg / kg / day) and the frequency of administration. The usual form of the drug taken three times a day, prolonged – 1-2 times. Two or more drugs are prescribed only with the ineffectiveness of monotherapy.
Treatment should be regular, as a sudden cancellation can aggravate the course of epilepsy, be carried out for a sufficiently long time (at least 3 years).