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| News Tracks > What's New |
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Recent improvements to Seizure Tracker, New ways to use the site, Seizure Tracker in the community. |
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| Pediatric Epilepsy Impacts Sleep for the Child and Parents |
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Room Sharing and Co-Sleeping Decrease Sleep Quality, Prevent Restful Sleep
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston have determined that pediatric epilepsy significantly impacts sleep patterns for the child and parents. According to the study available in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), sharing a room or co-sleeping with their child with epilepsy decreases the sleep quality and prevents restful sleep for parents.
Over 1% of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with epilepsy—a chronic, neurological disease characterized by recurring seizures. In families impacted by childhood epilepsy, both children and parents often have disrupted sleep patterns. Previous research has described a reciprocal interaction, where sleep patterns affect seizures and seizure profiles affect sleep. These prior studies have shown that sleep deprivation can trigger seizures, that sleep disorders can interfere with seizure control, and that epileptic discharge can disrupt sleep-wake cycles.
In the present study, Dr. Elizabeth Thiele and colleagues explore the impact of pediatric epilepsy on child and parental sleep quality, particularly as it relates to sleeping arrangements. Researchers included 105 households with epilepsy and 79 controls in this study. Parents of children between the ages of two and ten, with and without epilepsy, were surveyed to assess seizure history, child-parent sleep quality, and household sleep arrangements.
In this study, the mean age of seizure onset was 2.3 years, and 41% of patients had seizures within the first year of life. In patients with epilepsy, 64% had at least one seizure within the previous month and 37% reported having daily seizures. At least one antiepileptic drug was used in 91% of pediatric participants.
“Our study determined that households with a child with epilepsy had higher rates of parent-child room sharing and co-sleeping compared to controls,” said Dr. Thiele. Close to 64% of parents who reported co-sleeping did not do so prior to onset of their child’s seizures, and nearly 66% did not co-sleep with the child’s sibling at the same age. A decreased quality of sleep was reported in 62% of parents who were co-sleeping with their children.
Moreover, children with epilepsy had greater sleep disturbance, including awakening at night, daytime sleepiness, and bedtime resistance. Parents of children with epilepsy were also found to have increased sleep dysfunction and greater fatigue. In fact, 69% of parents felt concerned about night seizures and 44% reported feeling “rarely” or “never” rested. Results indicate that nighttime seizures were associated with parental sleep issues, while room sharing and co-sleeping were linked with child sleep problems.
Dr. Thiele concludes, “Our study demonstrates the profound impact of epilepsy on child and parent sleep patterns. The findings highlight the need for improved therapies for epilepsy and innovative nocturnal seizure monitoring technologies.”
Press Release 12:00 AM EDT May 17, 2012 |
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| Epilepsy Related Diet History Tool |
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We have just added a new tool on Seizure Tracker which will allow users to record and graph their Diet history along with Ketone and Glucose levels.
The Diet History tool allows users to collect information surrounding the Ketogenic, Low Glycemic, Modified Atkins and MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) diets.
Diet History data points include:
● Diet name
● Start/End Date
● Ketogenic Ratio
● MCT Oil intake goal
● Calorie intake goal
● Fat intake goal
● Carbohydrates intake goal
● Protein intake goal
● Diets perceived effect on seizure activity scale
● Side Effects - Including: Decrease in Appetite, Kidney Stones, Poor Weight Gain, Abnormal Glucose Levels, Constipation, Reduction in Bone Density, Pancreas Inflammation, High Lipid Levels, Immune Function Impact, Liver Function Impact, Lack of Energy, Nausea/Vomiting, Metabolic Acidosis, Low Vitamin D, Other.
● A Tolerability Scale
● Diet notes section
Ketone Level Tool:
The Seizure Tracker
Ketone level tool
allows users to record
ketone levels through
the daily event page.
Ketone entry options on the
event logging page
include: Ketone level,
Type of test (blood
or Urine) and time
of test.
Ketone representation on graphs.
Glucose Level Tool:
The Seizure Tracker
glucose level tool
allows users to record
glucose levels through
the daily event page.
Glucose entry options on the
event logging page
include: glucose level and time
of test.
glucose representation on graphs.
Visit the Seizure Tracker help section for instructions on using the new Diet tool.
Diet History along with the Ketone and Glucose level tools
Visit the Charlie Foundation website for more information on Diet therapy.
Special Thanks to Beth Zupec-Kania, RD, CD and Angela Black, MD for their help in the development of this tool. |
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| Tracking Daily Variables |
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 The
Seizure Tracker "Daily
Variables" tool
allows users to record
seizure triggers that
may not be directly associated
with a seizure event.
The simple form includes
data options for the
Variable description
(text), along with the
time and date of the
variable or trigger.
The description text
could include information
like: Missed medications, Diet
irregularities, etc.
Recorded variables can
be accessed and edited
by visiting the event
log for the day of the
variable. The variable
entry tool can be found
on the right side of
the daily event page.
Reports created on SeizureTracker.com
can include both graphical
and textual representations
of the variable entries.
Rolling over the graph
variable representation
will give you the time
and description of the
variable.
Visit the SeizureTracker.com help section for more information. |
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| VNS settings on graphs |
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We have a new feature to track the history of VNS settings. Now the VNS settings will appear on the Seizure Tracker graphs, allowing for for easier evaluation of VNS setting changes and how they affect seizure activity.
VNS settings representation on graphs.
Visit the Seizure Tracker help section for instructions on using the new VNS tool.
VNS Setting History and Magnet Swipe tool
Visit the Cyberonics® website for more information on VNS Therapy®. |
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| Find past articles by visiting links below.... |
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