Pediatr. praxi. 2025;26(6):351-357 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2025.068

Treatment of epilepsy in children

MUDr. Eva Babka Štěpánová, Ph.D., MUDr. Vilém Novák, Ph.D.

Oddělení dětské neurologie FN Ostrava, Katedra klinických neurověd OU Ostrava

Childhood epilepsies represent a highly heterogeneous group of disorders differing in etiology, clinical presentation, and prognosis. Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential for successful therapy and for improving the quality of life of both the patient and the family. Standard treatment consists of antiseizure drugs, the choice of which depends on the type of seizures or the specific syndrome. Approximately 30 % of pediatric patients develop pharmacoresistance, which necessitates the use of novel anticonvulsants and alternative approaches. These include epilepsy surgery, neurostimulation methods (e. g., vagus nerve stimulation), the ketogenic diet, and, more recently, immunologically or genetically targeted therapies. In pediatric epileptology, special attention is given to severe epileptic syndromes (e. g., Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome), where new therapeutic options such as cannabidiol and fenfluramine have been introduced in recent years. Treatment should always be individualized and multidisciplinary, focusing not only on seizure control but also on the child's neurocognitive and psychosocial development. This review provides an overview of the classification of epileptic seizures and syndromes and their management in everyday pediatric practice.

Keywords: epilepsy, epileptic syndrome, pharmacotherapy of epilepsy.

Accepted: December 10, 2025; Published: December 15, 2025  Show citation