At MedStar Health’s division of pediatric neurology, our expert clinical team provides a wide range of consultative services, neurodiagnostic studies, and therapies for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Pediatric neurologists closely collaborate with general pediatricians, hospitalist physicians, epilepsy specialists, neurosurgeons, developmental specialists, and other subspecialty physicians to provide comprehensive care.
To schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric neurologists, please call our MedStar Appointment Scheduling Line at 202-295-0547 and request an appointment with Pediatric Neurology.
Diagnosis
The beginning stages of an epilepsy diagnosis are very important. This is because treatment, as well as anticipated trajectory, will largely depend on several factors, mainly:
- Why your child has epilepsy
- Where in the brain your child’s seizures originate from
- What type(s) of seizure(s) your child has
When our specialists evaluate your child, they may determine that your child should receive a thorough evaluation in our Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Specialized Diagnostic Center
Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
Our Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is a sophisticated diagnostic center not available at most hospitals. Staffed by specially trained neurologists, nurses, and technicians, the unit is designed to accommodate patients while they are video-recorded and monitored by an electroencephalogram (EEG) around the clock, for an extended period of time.
This prolonged recording provides a more complete picture of brain activity before, during, and after seizures. This helps your child’s neurologist better quantify frequency and duration of seizures, define the type of seizure, and identify precisely the area in the brain where the seizure originates. We can also identify potentially silent seizures as well. This valuable information helps with determining and delivering the most effective treatment option.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
As part of our evaluation, we may determine that a MRI of your child’s brain may also be appropriate. This imaging method uses magnets to produce pictures of your brain. These images will reveal any physical abnormalities in your brain structure that may have caused your seizures. An MRI is not a tool to diagnose epilepsy. It gives your doctors more information about your brain and its physical structures. Based on a number of factors specific to your child’s presentation, our specialists will determine how and when this study needs to be done.
Treatment
The field of epilepsy treatment continues to evolve and advance with time. Once we collect the appropriate data regarding your child’s epilepsy, we will discuss all available treatment options, ranging from ongoing medication management to more complex surgical options, including both noninvasive and invasive procedures.
We understand there is a lot of information available amongst the strong community of pediatric epilepsy patients and their families, so we encourage you to bring questions or concerns you may have to your child’s neurologist. Your child’s unique epilepsy course, goals of care, and quality of life will all contribute to the best treatment option for your child.
Specialized Pediatric Care
We understand that many of our patients have neuro-atypical development and behaviors that require child-specific flexible care and support. We can provide sedation for procedures as needed to this special patient population, and we will thoughtfully discuss the risks and benefits of all procedures and treatment options to determine the best one for your child.
Seizure First-Aid
Watching someone you love, especially a child, go through a seizure can be quite frightening. It is important to remember, however, that first aid for seizures is actually very simple:
- Secure the environment: If the person experiencing the seizure begins to jerk, convulse, and fall to the ground, make sure that the area is free of dangerous or sharp objects that might harm them. Wait until they are no longer stiff and the seizure is at its end. Turn their entire body to the side and loosen anything that is tied around their neck, so that they can breathe easily. Do not attempt to hold the person down or restrain him or her in any way. Do not place anything in the mouth.
- Time the seizure: It is important to note how long the seizure lasts. Seizures should last no more than a minute or two. In general, the seizure will run its natural course—you can do nothing to shorten it. Rarely, drugs may be needed to stop a very lengthy seizure, but this is not typically the case.
- Remain calm: Seizures may look frightening, but are not usually a medical emergency. Stay calm and wait for the seizure to end. As the person regains consciousness, stay with them and reassure them. Allow them to rest and recover afterwards. Most of the time, the person recovering from a seizure will be able to resume activities with minor assistance. However, do not let the person drive or operate dangerous equipment. If you find that this is not true for your loved one, seek emergency care.
If this was your first seizure, you will want to seek medical care and begin the diagnostic process. MedStar Health boasts an impressive team of epilepsy experts who will take you from early diagnosis to treatment, and make sure that you feel taken care of, every step of the way.
Our providers
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Meaghan A Kelly, MD
Pediatric Neurology
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Thuy Nguyen, MD
Neurology, Pediatric Neurology & Epilepsy Neurology
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Paola Pergami, MD MDDO
Pediatric Nephrology & Pediatric Neurology
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