Absence Seizures/Abnormal Eye Movements or Just a Paranoid Mom?

SposaBellarina

DD is 18 months old and has been having upper respiratory & ear infections since she was 11 weeks (even in summer). She has had a sinus infection & runny eyes since the week before Christmas and had improved with amoxycilin, but she's still had a bit of a runny nose, and then her eye started running again. In In the last few days, I have noticed her eyes fluttering and rolling back in her head for a few seconds a number of times. My sister has frequent absences seizures (and also occasional grand mal seizures) and both the eye movement and short time span resemble my sister's absence seizures. I took DD back to the pediatrician yesterday and he diagnosed her with pink eye in both eyes and prescribed anti-biotic drops. He said it would be hard to tell if she's having seizures until the pinkeye clears up and he wouldn't want to put her through the testing if it wasn't necessary. He asked if she goes limp when this happens, and I said I can't tell, because 2 of the times, it happened when I put her down to change her and the 3rd time, I was buckling her into her car seat. Her eyes have fluttered and rolled back in her head every time I have laid her down today and now I am starting to wonder if she is also having absence seizures when she is just sitting quietly in her high chair. (She is usually very talkative.) Am I just being paranoid, or should I push for more testing? Thank you for your help.

kcisthebombdotcom

This is how absence seizures look here. We initially kind of wrote them off because it seemed to be behavioral but then she had a more dramatic one where she went limp in my arms. I would wait until the pink eye clears and then ask for a pedi neurologist referral if it continues.
Dd had chronic sinus infections and middle ear fluid due to enlarged adenoids and the surgery cured her issues--she's been sick twice in six months vs being sick twice a month. Have you consulted an ent yet?

ToastieSimons

Try taking a video. ds1 seizures present differently, but it does sound like they could certainly be. I would call a neurologist and schedule an appt especially because of your family history. Ask if you can send them a video of them and they may be able to rush an appt.

SposaBellarina

Thanks for the feedback. We do see an ENT, but he hasn't done surgery bc DD's language is above-average and her hearing is on the low side or normal, but still within the normal range.

kcisthebombdotcom

SposaBellarina said:

Thanks for the feedback. We do see an ENT, but he hasn't done surgery bc DD's language is above-average and her hearing is on the low side or normal, but still within the normal range.

That kind of makes sense but 15 months is an awful long time for a kid to be in pain--ear infections/sinus infections hurt a lot. I might get a second opinion. Even if its not impacting her development you could make a pretty good case it impacts quality of life and since surgery has incredibly minimal risks and a quick recovery I'm not sure I'd let it go on much longer.

SposaBellarina

Thanks for your help. It happens so quickly that I'm not sure I'll be able to get a video, but I'm going to try.

SposaBellarina

I have to agree about the quality of life-- she is always sick, and I also worry about over-doing the anti-biotics. I am getting a second opinion from the ENT that a friend takes her kids to. Thanks again.

mightmom13

DD's "transient states of awareness" (thinking absent seizures possibly) are very short as well and it's hard to tell per her behavioral issues too. They do pop up more often during the summer and now that there is a lot of snow - that is what prompted us to do neuro. Unfortunately the EEG was awful for her and of course showed nothing, MRI was negative, but neither of those can rule out absent seizures.....so now just a follow up and decide to treat or not to treat. 

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