Use of the ketogenic diet in treating children with seizures.

Ketogenic diet therapy has been found to be an effective means of treating afebrile seizures that are refractory to antiepileptic medication alone. Controversies exist regarding its use. Potential harmful side effects include Staphylococcus aureus infections, retarded growth, hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, urolithiasis, and optic neuropathy. Pediatric nurses with knowledge about ketogenic diet therapy and current research regarding its use, will be better able to determine the appropriateness of this form of therapy for children with seizures that cannot be controlled by medication alone.