Management of epilepsy
Epilepsy clinic
Although primary care professionals can provide excellent
services for children with epilepsy, there is a limit to what these
services can offer (Box 3). Therefore there is a need for referral
to a paediatric outpatient clinic or epilepsy clinic.
For the majority of parents, the educational, social and
psychological needs of their children with epilepsy are at least
as important as establishing the correct diagnosis of epilepsy and
controlling the disease with anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs). Ideally,
the various needs of epileptic children would be managed by a
multidisciplinary team within a specialist clinic (epilepsy clinic).
The team should include: a neurologist, hospital or community
paediatrician with an interest in the subject, a specialist nurse, a
clinical psychologist and a social worker.
The purpose of the clinic is to:
■■Form a close link between hospital and community services,
including GP practices and various related departments
■■Establish the diagnosis of epilepsy (clinical and initiating
investigation)
■■Provide information about epilepsy, triggers of seizure, first aid
during a seizure, and the purpose and duration of medication
■■ Initiate treatment
■■Provide psychological, educational and