Fast Facts
- Over 325,000 school-age children through age 14 have epilepsy.
- 45,000 children under the age of 15 develop epilepsy each year.
- Between 75,000 and 100,000 children under the age of 5 have experienced a febrile (fever-induced) seizure.
- In special populations, epilepsy occurs in:
- 10 percent of children with mental retardation
- 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy
- 50 percent of children with both disabilities
- The most common childhood seizure is an absence seizure, resembling staring or daydreaming. Teachers are often the first to notice this type of seizure.
- Most children with epilepsy have IQs in the normal range or higher.
- Self-esteem is a big concern in children with epilepsy. Studies comparing children with epilepsy with children who have other chronic health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, show that having seizures has a more negative effect on how children feel about themselves.
- Seizures, and the medications used to treat them, may impact memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions, resulting in learning difficulties.
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