If you believe your child might be having a seizure, please call triple zero (000) or seek medical advice.

Children with CP are more likely to experience seizures and develop epilepsy, with research estimating that 25 percent (one in four) of babies, toddlers and young children with CP experience epilepsy. When children with CP have an intellectual disability, the incidence of epilepsy rises to 48 percent. 

If your child has one seizure, this does not mean they have epilepsy. Epilepsy is usually diagnosed after several seizures.

Epilepsy describes a range of brain conditions that result in abnormal electrical activity causing repeated seizures. Epilepsy can also affect a child’s awareness, behaviour, body movements and senses.

There are two main types of seizures. Focal seizures begin in one part of the brain, while generalised seizures involve the entire brain.

A number of factors can contribute to a baby, toddler or young child being more likely to experience epilepsy, including:

• a history of epilepsy in the immediate family
• structural changes in the brain linked with CP
• brain injury caused by trauma, tumor or stroke
• fever-triggered convulsions that last longer than 10 minutes or happen often.

In about half of all babies, toddlers and young children with epilepsy, however, the cause of the condition is unknown.

Epilepsy is a deeply researched condition that be managed with medication. If your child has CP and epilepsy, there are effective treatment options.

You should always seek the advice of your healthcare team when your child experiences a seizure.

In the below section, you will find more information related to epilepsy and relevant treatments and interventions.