Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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Electrographic seizures (ES) and electrographic status epilepticus (ESE) are common in encephalopathic children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and associated with worse short-term outcome. Survey data indicate most physicians treat ES and ESE with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), but few data are available regarding AED usage patterns. We aimed to describe AED usage for ES and ESE in critically ill children. ⋯ Levetiracetam, phenobarbital, and phenytoin-fosphenytoin are commonly used to manage ES and ESE at our center. Over half of subjects received multiple AEDs.
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Review Case Reports
What have we learned about ictal epileptic headache? A review of well-documented cases.
The case report published in this issue by Wang et al. offers us an opportunity to review previously published "ictal epileptic headache" cases and draw attention to the criteria that have recently been published for this condition, taking into consideration not only the clinical-EEG and physiopathogenetic investigations required to diagnose this condition, but also the therapeutic aspects of the issue. ⋯ The development of animal models and molecular studies and, above all, multicenter clinical studies conducted according to the proposed IEH criteria represent the starting point for a definitive international consensus on this intriguing topic. In addition, to improve the recognition of ictal epileptic headache, we should encourage the use of EEG recording in the emergency setting.
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Epilepsy is not only a neurological disorder but may also have negative psychosocial consequences on people with epilepsy (PWE) and their relatives. Epilepsy has a major impact on quality of life (QoL) in PWE and family members. However, less is known about the impact of family support and family functioning on quality of life for PWE and family members and their interaction. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate factors that influence QoL in hospitalized adult patients with epilepsy and their relatives. ⋯ Interventions should address both PWE and family members and focus on the self-care improvement of PWE and the well-being and coping of family members. A patient-centred approach needs to include both the PWE and the relatives and address family support in order to alleviate stress in the patients and relatives alike.