The challenges of parenting are compounded if your child has epilepsy. Not
only do you have the normal concerns about raising a child; now you have to make
allowances for epilepsy.
This article details common concerns facing a parent who has a child with
epilepsy, and how to handle them.
How do children deal with epilepsy?
It’s natural for a child who has a chronic illness or who is different from
other children to feel resentful. Children with an illness such as epilepsy might
develop emotional problems, such as poor self-esteem or depression. These
problems might come from within (anger, embarrassment, frustration), or from
outside. (Children with epilepsy might be teased by other children.)
How can I help my child deal with these feelings?
As a parent, you can help your child deal with these feelings in the
following ways:
- Make sure your child understands as much as possible about his or her disease.
- Try to get your child to be positive about his or her disease
and focus on things he or she can do.
- Don’t let your child’s illness prevent you from
disciplining him or her if necessary.
As for your other children and the rest of your family:
- Be sure your other children understand their sibling’s
illness. If they are feeling neglected, try to spend more time with them.
- If you think it’s necessary, seek family counseling to help
everyone understand how to deal with the illness.
- Let your extended family know about your child’s illness and
answer any questions they might have.
Children and epilepsy medicine
If your child is taking medicine, you can work with your child’s doctor
to make sure your child is taking the medicine correctly. Some things to
be attentive to include the following:
- Learn the schedule for the medicine (how many times a day to
take it, whether it should be taken with food, etc.).
- Find out what to do if your child forgets to take a dose of medicine.
- Know if any of the medicines require blood tests.
- Be aware of the potential side effects of the medicines and
what to do about them.
- Ask the doctor what to do if your child is ill and/or has a
fever. (Fever sometimes brings on seizures.)
- Make sure your child’s school knows that he or she takes
epilepsy medicine, and that arrangements are made for him or her to take
it at school (if necessary).
What else can I do to protect my child?
Monitor your child anytime he or she is near water, whether at home or
outside.
Here are some tips for inside the home:
- Keep an eye on your child while he or she is in the bathtub.
- Make sure the bathroom door opens outward rather than inward,
so that it can still be opened in case your child falls. Take the locks off
the bathroom door.
- Check the bathtub drain to make sure it’s working properly.
- Keep the water in the tub at low levels.
- Keep the water temperature low to prevent scalding.
- Install a shower or tub seat with a safety strap in the tub for
older children.
- Keep all electrical appliances away from the sink or bathtub.
Outside the home:
- Don’t let a child with epilepsy swim alone.
- Make sure all adults, including the lifeguards and swimming
instructors, know that your child has epilepsy.
- If your child has a seizure while swimming, get him or her out
of the water as soon as possible and check his or her status. If anything
seems wrong, contact the doctor right away.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 1/2/2009...#12252
