Division of Pediatric
Neurology
Epilepsy
Care Program
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| Laurie Douglass, MD The Boston Medical Center Epilepsy Care Program for Children and Adults Persons of all ages can seek care at The Epilepsy Care Program. For some, epilepsy is a life long condition. Continuity of care is important; no one will ever be too young or grow too old to be treated at Boston Medical Center. We are a family oriented epilepsy center. We recognize the potential impact seizures make on life at home, at school, at work, and within social circles. Patients and their families are considered members of the medical team. We strive to empower our patients and families with education. Boston Medical Center has a unique program, The Family Advocacy Program, which can advise patients about problems with education, disabilities, employment, income supports, immigration, childcare and parenting support. Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical disturbances within the brain. There are numerous ways that seizures may manifest; they may present as staring, quick limb jerks, limb shaking, body stiffening, falls, or sensory disturbances. The seizures may be accompanied by urinary incontinence or breathing problems. Seizures are involuntary and unpredictable. Most seizures are brief, lasting less than 2-3 minutes; however, they can be frightening to witness. Epilepsy is commonly used interchangeably with seizure disorder. Epilepsy simply means that a person has had 2 or more seizures that were unprovoked. For a long while, people did not use the term epilepsy. There were many myths about epilepsy and people feared stigmatization. We now understand that epilepsy is a medical illness with many causes. Electroencephalography (EEG) allows physicians to look at the brain’s electrical activity. It can help the physician decide if events are seizure, and if so, what treatments would be indicated. We have a highly specialized team of EEG technicians who work hard to make the experience positive. We have excellent outpatient and inpatient EEG facilities. Once it has been determined a person has epilepsy, the physician attempts to find a cause for the seizures. Depending on the clinical history, a series of other laboratory tests and brain imaging studies may be indicated. The majority of persons with seizures/epilepsy respond to medication. For those that do not respond to the first few treatments, we try to offer hope. Our epilepsy specialists have expertise with the many seizure medications, the Vagal Nerve Stimulator, and the Ketogenic Diet. There are many ongoing research projects including drug trials for seizures. For some, surgery may be indicated; the epilepsy team can help to determine if surgery is a reasonable option. The Ketogenic Diet can be very efficacious for epilepsy. It is a specialized, medical diet high in fat with restricted carbohydrates and protein. The protein is titrated for growth. Physicians and nutritionists work closely with families throughout the induction and maintenance phases. Our nutritionists offer informational and support sessions about the Ketogenic Diet in our Demo Kitchen. The care of children with epilepsy at Boston Medical Center occurs within a series of concentric circles. We are part of a large medical center with many resources, but the Pediatric Epilepsy Program is part of a more intimate Department of Pediatrics that is oriented around developmental and behavioral medicine. The department is about family, the child and the human side of medicine. For appointments please call: 617-414-4501 Epilepsy Care Program Staff: |