Medical Commentary
Clinical Perspectives in Paediatric Neurology
Dr Krupa Torne shares practical, evidence-based perspectives on paediatric neurological conditions, helping families and healthcare professionals better understand neurological health in children.
Her commentary focuses on common and complex neurological conditions encountered in paediatric practice, with an emphasis on clear, clinically relevant information.
Parent & Family Resources
Clear, practical information to help parents and families understand common paediatric neurological conditions, investigations and treatment.
Your Child’s First Seizure
What parents should know when a child has a first suspected seizure, including what to do during the episode, what information to record, and when urgent medical assessment is needed
Warning signs of epilepsy in children
Repeated unprovoked seizures, brief staring spells, or episodes of jerking or stiffening can be warning signs of epilepsy in children. Not every unusual movement is a seizure, but recurring events should not be ignored. A paediatric neurology review can help decide whether further assessment, such as an EEG, is needed.
When Should My Child See a Paediatric Neurologist?
Recognising situations where specialist assessment may be helpful, including seizures, developmental concerns, abnormal movements, headaches, weakness and other neurological symptoms.
Is your child struggling at school?
School difficulties do not always improve with time. Signs such as trouble paying attention, struggles with reading or writing, delayed speech, poor sleep, frequent headaches, or behavioural concerns can point to an underlying neurological or neurodevelopmental condition. Early assessment can identify issues such as ADHD, learning difficulties, autism, epilepsy, or sleep disorders, and the right support can make a clear difference.
Your Child’s First Seizure
What parents should know when a child has a first suspected seizure, including what to do during the episode, what information to record, and when urgent medical assessment is needed
Febrile Seizures
Understanding seizures associated with fever in young children, what they look like, what parents should do during an episode, and when medical assessment is required.
When Should My Child See a Paediatric Neurologist?
Recognising situations where specialist assessment may be helpful, including seizures, developmental concerns, abnormal movements, headaches, weakness and other neurological symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my child has a first seizure?
Stay with your child, note the time, and do not restrain them or put anything in the mouth. Once the seizure stops, place them on their side if it is safe to do so. A first suspected seizure needs medical assessment. Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than five minutes, seizures follow one another, breathing is affected, or your child does not recover as expected. Write down what you saw, how long it lasted, and what your child was doing beforehand. That record is useful at the hospital and at the neurology review.
What are the warning signs of epilepsy in children?
Epilepsy is diagnosed from a pattern of unprovoked seizures, not from a single event. Warning signs can include repeated seizures without fever, brief spells of unresponsiveness or staring, jerking or stiffening, and episodes that look the same each time. Not every odd movement or daydreaming spell is a seizure. If spells are recurring, or you are unsure what you are seeing, a paediatric neurology review can decide whether an EEG or other tests are needed.
When should my child see a paediatric neurologist?
A specialist review is useful for suspected seizures, developmental delay, autism or ADHD concerns, abnormal movements, recurrent headaches, weakness, or any neurological symptom that is not settling. Parents can seek an opinion directly. Doctors can also refer a child for review. Dr Krupa Torne sees children at NMC hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah. Appointments are booked through the hospital.
Are seizures with fever the same as epilepsy?
No. Febrile seizures are seizures linked to fever in young children, and most are not epilepsy. Even so, a first febrile seizure should be assessed, especially if it lasts a long time, affects only one side of the body, or happens more than once in the same illness. The neurology review looks at the episode, the child’s development, and whether any further tests are needed.
What should I bring to the first consultation?
Bring previous clinic letters, discharge summaries, EEG or MRI reports, a list of current medicines, and the growth or school notes you already have. A short video of the episode, if you have one, is often more useful than a description. A first visit usually covers the history, an examination, a review of those reports, and a plan for tests or treatment.