{"h1":"Childhood epilepsy: when to refer a child","faq":[{"a":"No. Epilepsy is managed medically by paediatrics and neurology. Developmental and learning support runs alongside that care to address attention, learning and participation.","q":"Is epilepsy treated with developmental therapy?"},{"a":"When it lasts more than five minutes, repeats without recovery in between, or is accompanied by breathing difficulty or injury. Call emergency services immediately.","q":"When is a seizure an emergency?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"childhood-epilepsy-when-to-refer","title":"Childhood epilepsy: when to refer a child","entity":{"key":"epilepsy","kind":"condition","name":"Childhood Epilepsy","slug":"childhood-epilepsy"},"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-early-signs-of-childhood-epilepsy-should-a-frontline-health-worker-look-for-during-a-home-visit","title":"Early signs of childhood epilepsy on a home visit"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-early-indicators-of-childhood-epilepsy-should-a-paediatrician-watch-for","title":"Early Indicators of Childhood Epilepsy"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-childhood-epilepsy-assessed-in-a-young-child","title":"How Childhood Epilepsy Is Assessed in a Young Child"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-frontline-health-worker-spot-a-child-with-possible-childhood-epilepsy-early","title":"How a Frontline Health Worker Can Spot Possible Childhood Epilepsy Early"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-an-asha-or-phc-worker-escalate-a-child-showing-signs-of-childhood-epilepsy","title":"When should an ASHA or PHC worker escalate childhood epilepsy?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-clinical-red-flags-for-childhood-epilepsy-warrant-referral-in-a-young-child","title":"Childhood Epilepsy red flags warranting referral in young children"}],"summary":"Childhood epilepsy is a neurological condition needing prompt medical evaluation first — paediatrics and neurology, with EEG where indicated. Refer urgently; a seizure over five minutes is an emergency. Developmental and learning support runs alongside medical management, not instead of it.","answer_md":"*For the frontline worker: a suspected seizure is a medical event first — refer for urgent paediatric and neurology assessment, and treat a seizure lasting over five minutes as an emergency.*\n\n## In short\nChildhood epilepsy is a neurological condition, not a developmental-therapy matter in the first instance. Any child with a suspected seizure needs prompt medical evaluation — paediatrics and neurology, with EEG where indicated. Refer urgently; developmental and learning support runs *alongside* medical management, not instead of it.\n\n## When to refer — and when it is an emergency\n1. **Any first unprovoked seizure** — refer for paediatric/neurology assessment.\n2. **Staring spells with unresponsiveness,** or repeated brief \"absences\".\n3. **Recurrent jerking, stiffening or twitching,** especially on waking.\n4. **Loss of awareness or responsiveness** episodes without clear cause.\n5. **Developmental regression** after suspected seizures.\n\n**Emergency now:** a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, repeated seizures without recovery in between, breathing difficulty, or injury — call emergency services.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nOnce a child is under medical care, we support the developmental and learning impact that epilepsy can carry. A clinician maps strengths and gaps with the [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), and our [special education](/special-education) and therapy teams support attention, learning and participation in coordination with the treating neurologist. See [childhood epilepsy](/childhood-epilepsy). This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 classifies epilepsy or seizures (8A6Z); neurology guidance governs diagnosis and treatment.\n\n**Next step —** refer a child with suspected seizures for urgent medical assessment first. [Find a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre](/find-center).","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/childhood-epilepsy-when-to-refer","editorial":{"reviewed_at":null,"reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/childhood-epilepsy-when-to-refer","lang":"en","indexable":false},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/childhood-epilepsy-when-to-refer-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"meta_title":"Childhood Epilepsy: When to Refer a Child","meta_robots":"noindex, follow","everyday_tip":null,"published_at":"2026-06-10T07:14:55.907553+00:00","what_to_watch":null,"authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"8A6Z","label":"WHO ICD-11 (MMS) 8A6Z — epilepsy or seizures"},{"url":"https://www.who.int","label":"WHO — epilepsy public health guidance"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T07:14:31.906307+00:00","meta_description":"Suspected seizures need urgent paediatric and neurology assessment first. Referral red flags for frontline workers — and when a seizure is an emergency.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}