Abuja: Dr. Leo Odudu, Medical Director at Emel Hospital, has called on parents to seek immediate medical care for children experiencing seizures, emphasizing that these conditions are treatable and not spiritual attacks.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and can manifest in various ways including jerky movements, mood changes, and loss of consciousness.
Odudu clarified that while a seizure might occur as a single event, epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures. He cited literature estimating that about two to three percent of children experience seizures. The causes of seizures in infants and children are diverse, ranging from factors related to the mother and pregnancy to delivery complications and issues with the baby.
The paediatrician outlined several potential causes in newborns such as perinatal asphyxia, hypoglycemia, and neonatal infections. For older children, conditions like meningitis, severe sepsis, and head injuries were identified as potential causes. Odudu highlighted febrile convulsions as a common type of childhood seizure, affecting a significant percentage of Nigerian children between the ages of three months and five years.
He underscored the importance of maternal health during pregnancy, noting that infections, medications, and other factors could increase the risk of seizures in newborns. Odudu also noted that genetic factors and chromosomal abnormalities could predispose children to seizures, with febrile seizures often running in families.
Odudu advised parents on how to respond to a seizure, stressing that the child should be placed on their side to prevent choking and that no substances should be administered orally during a seizure. He cautioned against harmful traditional practices and urged immediate medical evaluation after a seizure.
The paediatrician explained that treatment for seizures often involves addressing the underlying condition and, in some cases, administering anti-seizure medications. He also mentioned that surgery has been successful in reducing seizures in advanced cases. Odudu stressed the importance of antenatal care and advised parents to seek immediate medical attention if a child experiences a seizure.
Odudu concluded by dispelling myths about seizures, emphasizing that they are medical conditions, not spiritual attacks, and that they can be managed with proper medical intervention.