[Epilepsy and learning disorders].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Children with epilepsy have more behavioral and cognitive problem than children with other chronic illness and children in the general population. Risk factors are multiple probably involving a combination of seizure, family and child variable, behavioral problems (depression, occur frequently but may be unrecognized). Anxiety disorders and psychoses are less common. DEVELOPMENT: The learning and behavioral found in epileptic children is multifactorial, first the effects of the conditions causing the epilepsy, in addition the epilepsy itself may cause, change in the nervous system through the metabolic and excitatory effects of the seizure and the neurotransmitter elements involved at the membrane level. The effects of the treatment modality, be it pharmacology or surgical may also play havoc with cognition function. CONCLUSION: The neurobehavioral effects of antiepileptic drug although probably less important with the newer agent than in the past, must be considered especially in polypharmacy as recent report have in dictated.