Pediatric Neurologic, Orthopedic, Respiratory, Infectious, and Genetic Disorders Examination: Seizure Disorders, Epilepsy, Status Epilepticus, Febrile Seizures, Traumatic Brain Injury, Increased Intracranial Pressure, Concussion, Hydrocephalus, Spina Bifi

Pediatric Neurologic, Orthopedic, Respiratory, Infectious, and Genetic Disorders Examination: Seizure Disorders, Epilepsy, Status Epilepticus, Febrile Seizures, Traumatic Brain Injury, Increased Intracranial Pressure, Concussion, Hydrocephalus, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Osteomyelitis, Scoliosis, Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease, Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis, Compartment Syndrome, Pediatric Fracture Management, Upper Respiratory Infections, Acute Otitis Media, Tonsillitis, Epiglottitis, Croup, Bronchiolitis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Asthma, Pneumonia, Pertussis, Foreign Body Aspiration, Cystic Fibrosis, Pediatric Respiratory Distress, and Evidence-Based Pediatric Nursing Exam II Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026 Most common pediatric neurologic disorder seizure disorder What are acute seizures Not considered epilepsy, but constitute seizure disorder examples of acute seizure causes *febrile episode *acute cerebral edema *tumor *toxins *metabolic epilepsy causes *Idiopathic *long term development secondary to an event What events can cause epilepsy *trauma *infection *congenital problems *meningitis *TBI what are partial seizures one area of the brain is affected examples of partial seizures *partial simple *partial complex what are generalized seizures more than one area of the brain is affected examples of generalized seizures *tonic-clonic *atonic *absence *tonic *myoclonic/clonic *akinetic simple partial seizures *one motor area is affected *lasts 5 minutes or less *No loss of consciousness/may not lose awareness *may have sensory symptoms such as buzzing, tingling, flashing lights Tonic clonic seizures *aura followed by loss of consiousness and tone *patient falls, muscle contractions and jerking (usually all 4 extremities) *Post-ictal phase: confusion, loss of bowel/bladder function common, headache, very tired Atonic seizures *drop attacks *sudden drop due to loss of tone *no loss of consciousness, but loses awareness *quick *may fall down and pop right back up *increased risk for injury Absence seizure *periods of staring or only minor movements for brief periods of time *may happen several times/day *child doesn't know it is happening Myoclonic/clonic seizure *muscle jerk seizures *single or multiple rhythmic jerks, flexion of limbs *clonic may start in one location and move to another location *very brief *Doesn't lose consciousness *may start as myoclonic and move to other type Status epilepticus *continuous seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes or a series of seizures where the child does not regain pre-seizure level of consiousness *could have lower oxygen levels (concerned about hypoxia) How to diagnose seizures *thorough history and physical *MRI/CT **EEG** *Parents may be able to capture spells on phones to show Seizure therapeutic management *Drug Therapy* *AEDs *Ketogenic diet (not healthy for growing kids) *Vagal nerve stimulation/other surgical treatment Anti-epileptic drugs *Usually not started after the first seizure (needs to be a clear pattern) *Start with one drug and titrate dose until seizures are controlled. May need to add multiple drugs depending on the patient Anti-epileptic drug monitoring