Children with severe epilepsy need special precautions at home to prevent accidents

Children with severe epilepsy need special safety measures at home to lower their risk of having an accident, states a Seminar in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Epilepsy is suspected when there is repetition of seizures. Scientists estimate that worldwide, 10.5 million children under 15 years have active epilepsy. In his Seminar Renzo Guerrini (University of Pisa, Italy) states that children with epilepsy are at increased risk of accidents, but only children with the most severe epilepsies have a high risk.

Professor Guerrini states: "The kitchen and bathroom are the most dangerous places: burning accidents should be prevented with shields for sources of heat and children should never be left alone when bathing. Beyond these precautions, the details of reasonable restrictions should be adapted to the individual child."

Contact: Professor Renzo Guerrini, Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry University of Pisa & IRGGS Fondazione Stella Maris, via dei Giacinti 2, 56018 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. T) +39 050 886332/280 renzo.guerrini@inpe.unipi.it

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