Category Archive

Seizures in Children

Absence seizures: what they look like and how to react

February 11, 2016

By Deron Hamel The scene is a play rehearsal. Two high-school students, a boy and a girl, are practising their parts. Suddenly, the girl pauses. She stares blankly, appearing lost in her thoughts. Several seconds pass. She then she resumes speaking, as though nothing has happened. One of the students asks another if a teacher…

Cannabidiol the Voices of Epilepsy’s hottest topic of 2015

December 10, 2015

By Deron Hamel Epilepsy Ontario’s weekly column, the Voices of Epilepsy, saw strong readership in 2015, and of all the issues covered this year one received more buzz on the organization’s social-media platforms than any other: cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a substance derived from the marijuana plant. It is the most abundant, non-psychoactive chemical compound…

2,000% price hike on infantile spasms medication ‘predatory behaviour’: Neurologist

September 24, 2015

By Deron Hamel A 2,000-per-cent price hike on a medication to treat infantile spasms is “predatory behaviour” on the part of Questcor Pharmaceuticals, and drug companies could hike prices on other seizure medications if policies aren’t put into place, says pediatric neurologist Dr. Carter Snead. Infantile spasms – also called West syndrome – is a…