Arkansas Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program is the only program in the state with a National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) Level 4 accreditation, providing the most advanced care for children with epilepsy. Our board-certified doctors are trained to evaluate, diagnose and create an individualized plan for your child. Learn more about our neurology program.

Most seizures end after 1 to 2 minutes without harm.  These seizures do not usually require a trip to the emergency room.  You do not usually have to do anything if a person has brief periods of staring or shaking.  Seizure first aid should be used with shaking or jerking lasting longer than a few seconds.

If you child begins to have a seizure:

• Lay him/her on the floor on his/her side to keep his/her airway open
• Clear the area around him/her of anything hard or sharp
• Do not try to hold him/her down or stop his/her movements
• Loosen any tight clothing, especially anything around his/her neck
• Do not put anything in his/her mouth – she will not swallow his/her tongue
• Time the seizure

If your child’s seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes:

• Administer Diastat if his/her neurologist has prescribed this medicine
• If Diastat has not been prescribed, call 911 or take your child to your local emergency room

If your child’s seizure continues after administration of the Diastat:

• Administer the 2nd Diastat syringe if the seizure has lasted 5 minutes after the 1st syringe was given
• Prepare to call 911 or take your child to your local emergency room

What is Diastat?

Diastat is a rectal medication of diazepam (valium) approved for treatment of prolonged seizures or clusters of seizures.

When should Diastat be given?

Diastat should be given for seizures lasting longer than five minutes or a cluster of seizures that occurs one right after the other.

How soon should the seizure stop after giving Diastat?

After giving the Diastat, the caregiver should notice effects of the medication within five minutes.  If the seizure continues another five minutes, a second Diastat can be given as well as seeking medical attention (call 911 or going to local emergency room).

If Diastat stops the seizure, what should you do?

Continue to monitor the child.  It is not always necessary to take him/her to the emergency room unless he/she is having trouble breathing or has become injured during the seizure.

What are the side effects of Diastat?

The most common side effect is sleepiness.  The child will most likely be tired from the seizure activity, also.  Other less likely side effects include:  dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, nervousness, feeling unsteady or clumsy, or a rash.

Helpful Hints

• Always lubricate your Diastat syringe with KY jelly before administering to your child.
• Place the tip of the syringe in the rectum just far enough so that all of the medicine goes into the rectum. 
• Hold the butt cheeks together after administering to assure all the medicine has been absorbed.
• Be sure that your child has Diastat with him/her wherever he/she goes.

Although your child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, we encourage you to let your child live a normal life.  Children with seizures do not usually have any physical limitations or activity restrictions. 

There is a chance that your child could lose consciousness during a seizure, so there are certain circumstances that your child should avoid or be closely monitored.  Your child's life could be at risk if he/she were to lose consciousness during certain activities.

• Swimming/Taking a Bath:  Your child should always be closely monitored while in the water.  Encourage your child to take showers instead of sitting in a tub of water.
• Fire:  Your child should always be closely monitored around campfires, fireplaces, or hot ovens/stoves.
• Heights:  Your child should always be closely monitored when activity includes heights – monkey bars, trees, etc.
• Driving:  Arkansas law requires your child to be seizure-free for one year before driving.

Please be aware that your child may have increased seizures when he/she is sick, running a fever, sleep-deprived, or under stress.  It is also very important that your child not miss his/her medication because this could cause increased seizures.

Web Sites:

• Epilepsy Foundation
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Epilepsy.com
• United States Department of Education
• About.com - Special Needs Children
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Documents:

• Caregiver Notification Sheet
• Seizure Calendar