ABSTRACT
Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder presenting during childhood. It differs from the other disorders covered in the preceding chapters by being a symptom, rather than the cause, of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Epilepsy may arise as the result of a range of CNS disorders including head injury, cerebral infection, and metabolic disorders. When present, epilepsy places an additional burden on the child with CNS dysfunction, and for this reason this chapter has been placed last in this series of chapters. The chapter is comprised of three major sections. The first section covers issues around defining and classifying epilepsy, aetiology, and the medical management of epilepsy. The second section addresses the major factors that impact on the cognitive and behavioural functioning of children with epilepsy. The final section addresses the specific psychosocial issues associated with childhood epilepsy.
