ABSTRACT
Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition presenting in childhood and is a symptom, rather than a cause, of brain dysfunction. Epilepsy may arise as the result of a range of disorders including traumatic injury, cerebral infection and metabolic disorders. The new conceptualisation of epilepsy as a brain network disease has particular implications for the assessment of children with epilepsy. Epileptic spasms may occur in severe forms of epilepsy diagnosed in infants, such as West's syndrome, an age-dependent manifestation of a severe disturbance in the immature central nervous system (CNS). Epilepsy advocacy organisations such as the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and other country-based organisations are important resources in this regard. Neuroradiological studies have identified structural anomalies in the brains of children with genetic epilepsy. In surgical samples, age of onset is also an important factor influencing cognitive outcome, independent of side of lesion, type of pathology, duration of epilepsy or seizure severity.
