Rev Neurol. 2015 Feb 25;60:S63-8.
Revista de neurologia
[Article in Spanish] Juan José García-Peñas
PMID: 25726826
INTRODUCTION: School failure, learning and behavioral problems are more common in children with epilepsy than the general population. The aim of this study is to examine the different factors which can affect the school performance of children with epilepsy.
DEVELOPMENT: Various psychosocial, medication-related, and epilepsy-related factors may be associated with learning disorders in epilepsy. The age of onset of epilepsy, the type of syndrome, its aetiology, and the response to treatment are some of the most important epilepsy-related factors. All of the established antiepileptic drugs can produce cognitive side effects, which are increased with polypharmacy and with increasing dosage and anticonvulsant blood levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Judicious management of all related factors is essential for an optimal outcome. Recent onset of educational problems in a child with epilepsy deserves immediate and exhaustive evaluation and management.
