Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) — What Pediatricians Need to Know

Abstract

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a devastating complication in children with epilepsy. Children with generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, nocturnal seizures, and co-morbid developmental delay/intellectual disability are at higher risk of SUDEP. The pathogenic mechanisms are incompletely understood and involve cardiac, respiratory, autonomic and cerebral dysfunction. Prone positioning is also significantly associated with SUDEP and may be a target for SUDEP prevention. Good epilepsy control also attenuates the risk; hence, it is important to provide adequate antiepileptic drug therapy with stress on drug compliance as well as early surgical referral for seizure control, wherever necessary. It is recommended that parents of children with epilepsy be counseled about the risk factors for SUDEP and potential measures of SUDEP prevention. We herein provide a pediatric perspective of the problem and guidance about parental counselling for its prevention.