Updates in the medical management of pediatric epilepsy

Epilepsy has been increasingly recognized as one of the most significant disorders facing humanity, with nearly 65 million people affected globally. One in 26 people will have epilepsy in their lifetime. It is a disease that has been documented in human history for millennia, and continues to be a diagnosis surrounded by fear, misunderstanding, and discrimination. The burden of epilepsy has unfortunately been placed disproportionately on individuals living in low and middle income countries, often leaving the most vulnerable with limited treatment options and access to care. Children also suffer more frequently from the disorder and face the additional challenges of disrupted cognitive and social development. Additionally, in the pediatric population, individuals with epilepsy face the challenging prospects of decreased academic achievement, lower quality of life, and higher mortality when compared to their unaffected peers.