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Chapter 5 - Post-traumatic Epilepsy in Children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 August 2021

By
Cristina Rosado Coelho  and
Jun T. Park
Edited by
Marco Mula
Marco Mula
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
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Summary

The incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is estimated to be high, being an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Post traumatic seizures (PTS), post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), and neuropsychiatric sequelae after TBI contribute to the medical health burden in children. PTE has been recognized as one of the most common forms of acquired epilepsies in young people, and it is associated with poor functional and psychosocial outcome. In this chapter, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of PTE, and the role of antiepileptic drugs in children are discussed. In addition, the poorly understood pathophysiology of PTE is discussed with reference to genetic and neurophysiologic biomarkers and potential risk factors that increase the risk of developing PTE.

Keywords

Traumatic brain injurychildrenpost-traumatic epilepsypost-traumatic seizures
Type
Chapter
Information
Post-traumatic Epilepsy , pp. 78 - 89
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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