Epilepsy in Children: Individual Symptomatic (Structural) Forms

Epilepsy is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Most studies have shown that the peak incidence occurs in children under 15 years of age, especially in the first year of life. The diagnosis of epilepsy, unlike other chronic diseases, imposes a sociocultural and moral burden on patients and their parents. Data on the prevalence of this disease in children in different countries are presented. The mortality rate in children with epilepsy is 2-4 times higher than in the rest of the population. A new classification of epilepsy in 2017 by distribution depending on the etiologic factor is demonstrated, which is important for choosing the tactics of the course. Epileptic seizures in patients with infectious diseases of the brain, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, after traumatic brain injury are described in more detail, and the features of acute attacks, as well as late epileptic seizures in these diseases are presented. Recommendations on antiepileptic drugs as initial monotherapy in children with focal seizures and depending on the underlying process causing the development of a particular symptomatic (structural) form of epilepsy are highlighted.