For many children suffering from epilepsy, modern drugs cease to be effective, leading to frequent seizures even after prescribed treatment. Families are forced to consult specialists, undergo EEG and MRI scans, and try various medications in the hope of establishing the true cause of the illness and finding the best treatment path. However, in many cases, physicians refer to this as drug-resistant epilepsy.
Epilepsy is considered drug-resistant when seizures persist even after the administration of two adequate medications. Such a situation requires further examination of the child to determine the cause of the disease and consider alternative therapy methods.
Consultant Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Indrashish Re Choudhary told Aajtak.in that the lack of effect from medications in children significantly complicates the treatment process. Constant seizures negatively affect the child's cognitive functions, their ability to speak and acquire language, behavior, schooling, and overall life activities. These problems also put pressure on the entire family, causing anxiety about the child's safety, the need for frequent hospitalizations, educational delays, and psychological stress.
Dr. Choudhary emphasized that in drug-resistant epilepsy, it is crucial to seek specialist help promptly. He noted that simply changing or increasing the dosage of medication may be insufficient for every child. In such cases, an examination at a specialized epilepsy center, where necessary resources for accurate diagnosis and treatment are available, is required. Depending on the child's condition, methods such as surgical treatment of epilepsy, ketogenic diet, neurostimulation, and genetic tests may be considered. Identifying the true cause of the disease in some children opens up new horizons for treatment.
Dr. Vikas Prit Singh, a former Professor of Neurology at the Department of Neurology of GB Pant Hospital in Delhi, also noted the increase in cases of drug resistance in epilepsy in recent years. One factor is the improper use of medications. Dr. Singh believes that epilepsy treatment must be individualized for each child, depending on the nature of the seizures, the cause of the disease, the child's developmental level, and the effectiveness of the medications taken. Complete information about seizures, results of examinations such as EEG and MRI, as well as genetic tests, helps determine the optimal treatment plan. If seizures persist despite taking medication, doctors can consider additional options, including surgery, neurostimulation, or the ketogenic diet.