[School failure and pediatric epilepsy].
BACKGROUND
School failure, learning and behavioral problems are more common in children with epilepsy than the general population. The aim of this study is to examine the different factors which can affect the school performance of children with epilepsy.


METHODS
Various psychosocial, medication-related, and epilepsy-related factors may be associated with learning disorders in epilepsy. The age of onset of epilepsy, the type of syndrome, its aetiology, and the response to treatment are some of the most important epilepsy-related factors. All of the established antiepileptic drugs can produce cognitive side effects, which are increased with polypharmacy and with increasing dosage and anticonvulsant blood levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Judicious management of all related factors is essential for an optimal outcome. Recent onset of educational problems in a child with epilepsy deserves immediate and exhaustive evaluation and management.
Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
Juan José
JJ
García-Peñas
D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*