SEIZURES and epilepsy are prevalent among kids in Davao Region, with some as young as newborns, the Southern Philippines Medical Center-Pediatrics Neurology department revealed.
The department has reported two to three admissions of seizures daily usually from bacterial meningitis and focal onset impaired awareness seizure.
SPMC pediatrician Dr. Gea Shanine Sedayao urged parents of children experiencing seizure episodes or those already diagnosed with epilepsy to seek regular medical consultations.
“Untreated seizure episodes can cause brain damage and other complications including neurodevelopmental problems which others may lead to cerebral palsy,” Sedayao said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Sept. 18.
Sedayao said the department checks the dosage of anti-seizure medications every month by checking the weight of the children to control seizures. Failure to follow up can only trigger episodes more frequently.
The pediatrician advised the parents of kids with status epilepticus, exhibited by a prolonged and continuous seizure for more than 30 minutes, to rush them to the hospital for treatment.
“Ibig sabihin walang oxygen ang brain, it can cause hypoxia to the brain. It means there is no oxygen supply in the brain for that long period. Kapag nawalan ng oxygen ang brain, pwede ito maka-cause ng damage, eventually the damage can lead to death,” she said.
Seizures are considered temporary and transient but can develop into epilepsy if it is unprovoked and occurs several times, she added.
Prolonged use of gadgets can trigger episodes, particularly the flashing and blinking lights.
Various causes of seizure include metabolic disorders, brain tumors, abnormal sodium or glucose content levels in the blood, meningitis and encephalitis, brain injury from childbirth, drug abuse, and electric shock.
Sedayao stressed the importance of physical activities for the kids, proper nutrition to maintain a healthy metabolism, and a normal amount of electrolytes. Seizures can be vaccine-preventable hence she urged the parents to have their babies immunized.
The pediatrician told parents to visit their neuro clinic under the OPD in the JICA building in SPMC.
