Atonic Seizures In Children

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[edit] Atonic Seizures In Children

This is a generalized seizure disorder with brief episodes of complete loss of muscle tone and consciousness. These children suddenly collapse and are at great risk of a closed head injury with possible secondary injuries.

These could include a skull fracture or brain hemorrhage and then lead to epilepsy due to the scarring in the brain (called secondary epilepsy). Like infantile spasms and myoclonic seizures they are difficult to treat.

Treatment:

Valproic acid is usually the first line of therapy, if this fails, clonazepam would be the next in line, followed by ethosuximide and acetazolamide (see under therapy for absence seizures).

Here is a site that explains the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy with tonic and atonic seizures.

Home page

Neurological disease

Epilepsy table

References:

1. F Zara et al. Am J Hum Gen 2000 May 66(5): 1552-1557.

2. S Yeung et al. Europ J Paediatr Neurol 2000; 4(1): 31-33.

3. LS Leung et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2000 Sep 24(7): 763-775.

4. DJ Yen et al. Epilepsia 2000 Sep 41(9) 1162-1166.

5. E Starreveld et al. Can Fam Physician 2000 Sep 46: 1817-1823.

6. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 172.

7. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 271, p.2415.

8. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.

9. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier