Hyderabad: Pediatric Epilepsy Society, Hyderabad and Department of Neurosciences, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) jointly organised a Two-Day Symposium on Pediatric Epilepsies held in Hotel Taj Deccan on Saturday and Sunday in city. The two day meet was attended by 230 International Faculty from USA, Japan, England, Europe and Pediatricians and Neurosurgeons from across India.

Pediatric epilepsy is epilepsy, a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which occurs in a young patient. There are several potential causes of seizures and epilepsy in children.

The objective of the meet according to Dr. Alladi Venkatesh, Founding President of Pediatric Epilepsy Society, was to discuss epidemiology, genetics and classification of childhood epilepsies.  Also to discuss the state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment approaches in epilepsy. Also to review medical, surgical treatment strategies that affect epilepsy outcomes in children. The symposium was an attempt to bring the latest in research and developments in the specialised filed of Pediatric Epilepsy for common good. And to support doctors and to treat and benefit patients using the latest edge of scientific progress. The symposium helps doctors to keep abreast of the latest developments in their area of specialisation.

The major focus of the symposium was to create awareness that if the Pediatric Epilepsy cannot be cured by medicines, it can be cured by surgery. Nearly 30% children do not respond to medicines.  In such cases Epilepsy Surgery offers best solution. India adds 5 lakh new Pediatric Epilepsy cases every year. Nearly 10% of this number can be cured by the surgery, informed Dr. Manas Panigrahi, Neurosurgeon at KIMS hospital. Not many are aware of the Epilepsy Surgery.  Only 500 kids are operated every year while there is a need to operate 40 to 50,000 people in the country every year, he said.  Unfortunately there is no awareness.  And also infrastructure required for Epilepsy Surgery is also not available in many hospitals.  KIMS is one of the top five hospitals in India to have established a state of the art Epilepsy Center in October 2010. Since then it has done nearly 200 surgeries. All these surgeries were carried under Aarogyasri at a cost of Rs 1.5lakh to Rs 2lakh.  We have all the facilities of advanced neuro imaging including MRI Brain, Nuclear medicine imaging studies like SPECT & PET.  Surgery can help 30% of the people with epilepsy whose seizures do not get controlled well in spite of medical treatment, he added.

The two symposium had marathon sessions, case studies from 7 in the morning to 8 in the evening.  Some of the international faculty included Dr. Ajay Gupta, Cleveland, USA; Dr. Jayesh Patel, Bristol, UK; Nitish Vora, London, UK and Neurosurgeon Dr. Taisuke Otsuki, Tokyo, Japan.  Neurosurgeons Dr. Manas Panigrahi, Hyderabad; Dr. Malla Bhaskar Rao, Mubai; Dr. Sarat Chandra, Delhi and Datta Muzumdar, Mumbai. Neuroradiologists Ravi Varma and VSV Rammohan both from Hyderabad have also participated in the Symposium.

Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, a world renowned Neurologist from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology participated and delivered Annual Oration of Pediatric Epilepsy Society. The Oration was inaugurated by Dr. B. Bhaskar Rao, Managing Director and CEO of KIMS. While addressing the gathering, informed that KIMS has done remarkable achievement by establishing India’s best Epilepsy Center.  And added that it has the finest equipment and infrastructure.  He said that the hospital is expanding to 1000 bedded very soon. And is likely to set up many specialist centers and most advanced equipment probably rare in the country, he informed.

Epilepsy surgery is a highly specialized procedure and performed by highly experienced surgeons. Only few centers have such experts in the country. Hyderabad city has just 3 such expert surgeons. Only 10 such surgeons are available across the country. There is a shortage of Neurosurgeons.  Epilepsy surgery is considered only when person is thought to have a very good chance of becoming seizure free after surgery.  This is considered in people whose seizures can be shown to arise in one area of the brain.  Over 70% of people who have epilepsy surgery become completely seizure free.

The management of epilepsy in the pediatric patient requires careful evaluation, classification, and pharmacologic treatment. Despite best efforts on the part of clinicians, approximately 25% of children remain refractory to appropriate medical therapies. The development of an improved classification system and the emergence of several new antiepileptic drugs have enabled some progress in this area, specifically in children felt many doctors who spoke on the occasion.

Epilepsy represents a burden of disease and stigma that affects nearly 1% of the world’s pediatric population.  It is a very prevalent neurologic disorder especially in developing countries.  Epilepsy is the most common disorder seen by the child neurologist.  Age specific prevalence rates are highest in the 1st decade of life especially below the age of 2years.  Incidence studies are not available in India.  However some studies suggest that the prevalence rate is 5.59 per 1000 population.

Pediatric Epilepsy Society probably only one of its kind was formed to fill the gap between super specialists and specialists. The society has 500 members on its rolls informed Dr. Alladi Venkatesh. The causes for Pediatric Epilepsy is due to genetic factors, bad care during pregnancies,  Some malformations of the brain which occur during brain development can lead to epileptic conditions that present in childhood.

A Poster Presentation competition was also organised informed Dr. Sita Jayalakshmi, Organising Secretary of the Symposium.

The two day symposium concluded Sunday evening.