Measurable outcomes for pediatric epileptic encephalopathy: a single-center experience with corticosteroid therapy.

Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat refractory epilepsy in children, but the heterogeneity of the population and lack of standardized outcome measures have limited understanding of their effectiveness. We conducted a single-center study of corticosteroids for epileptic encephalopathy to (a) identify domains for measurement and estimate potential effect sizes, (b) characterize heterogeneity, and (c) identify outcomes that may need better tools for measurement. In this retrospective single-center cohort study, children with epileptic encephalopathy (excluding infantile spasms) were treated with a standardized course of oral dexamethasone or IV methylprednisolone.

COVID-19 in Patients With Seizures and Epilepsy: Interpretation of Relevant Knowledge of Presenting Signs and Symptoms.

There are an increasing number of clinical studies for COVID-19, with several large cohort studies documenting initial signs and symptoms. Realizing the need for current information, this summary provides a focused summary of pertinent clinical diagnostic information about neurological involvement of SARS-CoV-2 virus and clinical presentation of COVID-19, especially in relationship to patients with seizures and epilepsy. There is no evidence from cohort studies in the general population that seizures are worsened in COVID-19.

Depression and anxiety in children with epilepsy and other chronic health conditions: National estimates of prevalence and risk factors.

Objective: This study estimates the national prevalence of depression and anxiety among children with epilepsy and determines which demographic variables and comorbidities increase the risk of these psychopathologies. We also compare the rates of depression and anxiety in pediatric epilepsy with those of other chronic health conditions in childhood.

Methods: We used the 2009-2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs to identify children with epilepsy with and without depression and anxiety.