Specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and management of epilepsy in children

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting the electrical activities within the brain and is diagnosed if the child has two or more unprovoked seizures. An unprovoked attack is one with no immediate cause connected to the seizures, such as low blood glucose, exposure to toxins, the direct effect of trauma, or fever in young children.

Children with epilepsy have special needs because their brains and nervous systems are actively developing. At Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s, our epileptologists work with pediatric neurologists and other specialties to provide proper care and treatment for newborns to teenagers.

young boy with pediatric epilepsy laying on floor of library with open book and smiling at camera

Pediatric epilepsy conditions we treat

An epileptologist is primarily focused on treating children with epilepsy, although they are also trained in other neurological disorders.

Epilepsy

Children with epilepsy have abnormal electrical activity in their brains. This can cause repeated seizures that often occur with no warning. Some call these seizures "fits" or "spells" where the child may shake or jerk uncontrollably. There is a spectrum of severity of epilepsy, and pediatric epileptologists treat mild to severe cases.

Intractable or refractory epilepsy

If a child has epilepsy, it is common to use medications to control the onset of seizures. However, if the child has tried two or more medications without success, it is a more severe case of epilepsy, called intractable epilepsy. A pediatric epileptologist is trained to work with the child to analyze factors such as altering diet, analyzing triggers, or proposing surgery to improve the child’s condition.

Schedule an appointment with a pediatric epileptologist

Call 1.877.724.5437

Find a pediatric epileptologist

Find a location

Our treatment approach

At Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's, we treat all forms of pediatric epilepsy. We can recommend the ketogenic diet, a specialized therapy for people with epilepsy resistant to standard epilepsy medications. In conjunction with pediatric neurosurgery, we also offer implantation of the Vagal Nerve Stimulator, a device to assist in the control of medically refractory epilepsy.

We are involved with other members of the Baylor Scott & White Epilepsy Center and Department of Pediatrics in research involving new medical therapies for neonatal and childhood seizures.

Our pediatric epileptology team is committed to providing the best care to your child, often following epilepsy until adulthood. We collaborate with other pediatric specialists to develop your child's best diagnostic and treatment plan.

young girl with pigtails and raspberries on her fingers smiling outside