Seizure Disorders

Whether the symptoms involve rhythmic convulsions or jerkiness in the entire body, localized muscle spasms, sudden loss of awareness or other symptoms, it can be disconcerting when your child starts to exhibit symptoms of a seizure. When your child suffers from seizures, you want to know why and you want to know what you can do to prevent any further suffering. We can help.

Infant and child seizure disorders

Seizures are caused by abnormal brain function. Depending on the extent of the brain area affected by the seizure, seizures can affect the entire body or only part of the body. While there are numerous types of seizures that can affect children and adults, some examples of seizure disorders exhibited in infants and children include:

• Neonatal seizures: Neonatal seizures occur within 28 days of birth and can be difficult to identify as a seizure. Symptoms can include lip-smacking, eyes pointing in opposite directions and periods of not breathing. Infants with seizures are at a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy and other health complications during their childhood.
• Focal seizures (partial seizures): Partial seizures involve only a small portion of the brain and therefore, may only affect a localized area of the body. Symptoms can include muscle spasms or muscle twitches that can mainly affect only one group of muscles, or can move from one group of muscles to the next (commonly called march seizures). Additional symptoms can include strange behavior or lack of awareness during the seizure.
• Tonic-clonic seizures (mal seizures): Tonic-clonic seizures are a type of generalized seizures that involve a larger portion of the brain. Symptoms can be widespread throughout the body and may include rhythmic convulsions, muscle jerkiness, loss of consciousness and tongue biting. Following the seizure, the child may have no memory of the seizure ever occurring.

Seizure disorders and cerebral palsy (CP)

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), as many as half of all children with cerebral palsy suffer from seizures. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affects motor control. Cerebral palsy can be caused by an obstetric accident during childbirth or by many other factors.

The nature of the brain damage that leads to the development of cerebral palsy can also cause the child to experience seizures. Therefore, if your child is experiencing seizures, it is possible that he/she is also suffering from undiagnosed cerebral palsy.

Do you have a case? Ask our doctor.

Bradford S. Davis, M.D., in-house medical director at Michels & Lew, can answer your questions about seizures in children. In many cases, the child's seizure brings awareness of other neurological problems. Our team can evaluate your child's condition, utilizing top medical experts when necessary, to help you understand the cause of your child's seizures.

In some cases, the seizures could be derived from brain damage that occurred during pregnancy or childbirth. If medical negligence was involved, our legal team works diligently to hold negligent medical professionals accountable. Contact our Los Angeles office for a case evaluation with a physician and attorney. Whether we determine you have a case or not, we will share all information we find with you, and you owe us nothing unless we recover damages on your behalf.