What is Epilepsy?

Key facts 

• Epilepsy is a condition which may cause recurring seizures, sometimes called ‘fits’. Therefore having one seizure does not usually mean that your child has Epilepsy.  

• Epilepsy can start at any age and there are different seizure types. 

This video from Epilepsy Action explains what epilepsy is, how it is diagnosed, what seizures look like and triggers:

What to do if your child has a seizure 

If your child has experienced their first seizure which is not considered to be a ‘febrile seizure’ (high temperature) seizure the following resource from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has been designed for parents and carers will provide you with key information including first aid

• Following a first seizure without fever
• Epilepsy Action-Care First Aid leaflet

Epilepsy Clinic 

We have a number of different clinics that are run by our expert team.  

In these clinics the children and young people experiencing seizure like episodes are seen for an initial assessment or follow up assessment. If your child has an appointment in one of these clinics, the Consultant will ask a lot of questions about the episodes your child having. It is helpful to obtain the witness account, keep a dairy of the events and try to record the episodes on your phone when possible. 

Patients are seen regularly to monitor epilepsy medication, seizure frequency, treatments and wider issues about epilepsy in day to day life. 

Telephone clinics 

Telephone clinics are follow-up clinics for patients to discuss: 

• Investigation results 

• Medication review and changes 

• Troubleshoot questions/queries 

• Ongoing support 

Nurse-led clinics 

These clinics are run by paediatric epilepsy specialist nurse’s to provide: 

• Education and training 

• Health and safety advice 

• Establish care plans to include emergency plan