Seizures and epilepsy in infancy and childhood.

The evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood epilepsy or isolated seizures deserve special consideration. Whenever possible, a working diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome should be implemented early in the course of evaluation to help plan the necessary investigations and acute and chronic treatment. The plan will evolve over a number of years as the patient's syndrome is better defined. The overall neurologic status of the child and response to therapy are important prognostic factors. Treatment proceeds after balancing antiepileptic drug efficacy versus adverse drug effects. The length of treatment, discussion of prognosis, and likelihood for genetic transmission are all related to the proper diagnosis of epilepsy syndromes.