Epilepsy in Children: Signs, Diagnosis and First Steps.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition where a person has a tendency to have recurrent seizures. Seizures are caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain and can look very different — from staring spells to convulsions. For reliable clinical guidance, the NICE epilepsy guideline is the standard reference for diagnosis and management. NICE

Signs parents commonly see

• Staring and unresponsiveness (absence seizures)

• Sudden jerking or shaking of arms and legs (generalised seizures)

• Confusion, unsteadiness, or brief collapses

• Many seizure types are less obvious than tonic-clonic convulsions, and a careful history helps clinicians make the right referral. nhs.uk

Diagnosis — what to expect

1. Record what you see. Exact timing, triggers, recovery — this is key. Clinicians rely on good descriptions and logs.

2. GP referral and onward tests. If seizures are suspected, your GP typically refers to paediatrics; investigations may include EEG and MRI where appropriate. NICE guidance sets out referral and management pathways. NICE+1

What to record (practical checklist)

• Start and end time (or use an app timer).

• What the child did (stiffening, jerking, staring).

• Any triggers (illness, poor sleep, fever).

• Recovery (how long to return to usual behaviour).

• Medication given and timings (if emergency meds used).Logging this consistently helps clinicians see patterns and plan treatment.

Seizure action plans and safety

Work with your child’s neurologist or GP to create a seizure action plan — this tells schools and carers what to do in an emergency, when to give rescue medication, and when to call 999. Both Epilepsy Action and Epilepsy Society have helpful resources and templates for action plans. Epilepsy Foundation+1

How My Penelope helps

• Timer and structured fields for seizure type, duration and recovery.

• Exportable timelines to share with paediatricians and neurologists.

• Notes and media — attach a short, time-stamped video when safe and appropriate to do so.

When to call emergency services

Call 999 if: it’s their first seizure, a seizure lasts longer than usual (or longer than 5 minutes if unknown), they don’t regain consciousness, or they have multiple seizures without recovery. These are standard NHS triggers for urgent help. nhs.uk+1

Bottom line

Epilepsy can be frightening, but careful recording and a clear action plan make care safer and more effective. Use seizure logs and action plans in partnership with clinical teams to protect your child. NICE+1