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Medical Care in China

Childhood epilepsy
Treatment in China

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Condition Guide

About Childhood epilepsy

Understand the condition, common triggers and treatment options that may require specialist assessment.

Disease Introduction

Childhood epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in childhood, caused by recurrent seizures, abnormalities in consciousness, movement, sensation, or behavior due to abnormal and excessive discharge of neurons in the brain. Etiology includes genetic, structural (such as cortical dysplasia, hippocampal sclerosis), metabolic, immune, and unexplained causes. Onset in infancy is also associated with perinatal brain injury, encephalitis, and inherited metabolic diseases. Typical manifestations include sudden limb convulsions, staring spells, blank stares, and spasms such as rapid head nodding. Most children can control their seizures with standardized antiepileptic drugs; those refractory to medication can achieve seizure-free or significantly remitted seizures through a ketogenic diet, neuromodulation, precise resection of the epileptogenic focus, or minimally invasive thermotherapy, allowing many children to live and study normally.

Cutting-edge high-precision diagnostic and treatment technologies

Magnetic Resonance Laser Ablation : MRgLITT involves implanting a laser fiber under stereotactic guidance and ablating the epileptogenic focus under real-time MRI temperature monitoring. It requires only about 3 mm of drilling, with minimal bleeding and a short hospital stay. At the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, a child who had 10-20 seizures per day after the operation completely recovered.
Optimized vagus nerve stimulation : A two-center retrospective study showed that 76.9% of children experienced a reduction of ≥50% in seizures 12 months after vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) implantation, and 11.5% achieved complete seizure freedom. The optimal efficacy was achieved at an output of approximately 1.5 mA and a duty cycle of 10%, making it an important option for multifocal unresectable epilepsy.
Reactive brain pacing : Intracranial reactive neuromodulation (RNS) is being explored in children with multifocal or generalized epilepsy. A study of 11 patients targeting the central nucleus of the thalamus showed that 81.8% were responders, with an average reduction of 81.1% in seizures. It can discharge on demand and has few side effects.
Robot-assisted localization : Robot-assisted stereotactic implantation of intracranial electrodes for precise localization of the epileptogenic focus, followed by resection or radiofrequency thermocoagulation. The Children's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University and Shanghai Children's Medical Center systematically carry out procedures such as SEEG, cerebral hemisphere transection, and minimally invasive thermocoagulation of hypothalamic hamartomas.
Ketogenic diet comprehensive treatment : Modified ketogenic diets have been developed for drug-resistant epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability and hereditary metabolic diseases. Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Nanjing Children's Hospital and other hospitals have accumulated more than ten years of experience. It is an important non-drug treatment option in addition to drugs and surgery.

Care Overview

Childhood epilepsy Treatment in China

The medical team will develop a personalized protocol based on the pathology type, stage, genetic test, previous treatment history, and the patient's physical condition.

1. Standardize antiepileptic drugs : For children with mild to moderate epilepsy at first visit, select drugs according to seizure type and epilepsy syndrome, start with single drug, gradually titrate, and regularly check blood drug concentration, electroencephalogram and liver and kidney function. The goal is to completely eliminate seizures and have no obvious side effects.
2. Ketogenic diet therapy : Children with poorly controlled metabolic syndrome or partial glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome should adopt a ketogenic diet with high fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrates, under the supervision of a nutritionist and an epilepsy specialist.
3. Resection of epileptogenic focus : For children with focal surgically identifiable epileptogenic focus, stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) combined with MRI and PET can be used to locate the epileptogenic focus, and lesion resection, lobectomy or cerebral hemisphere transection can be performed. The seizure-free rate after surgery can reach 60%-80%.
4. Minimally invasive laser ablation : For children with lesions in deep brain regions or functional areas who are not suitable for craniotomy, MRgLITT laser interstitial thermotherapy is performed. Fiber optics are inserted through a small scalp hole to ablate the epileptogenic focus, resulting in minimal trauma and maximum protection of normal brain tissue.
5. Neuromodulation therapy : Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implantation for children with multifocal or unresectable conditions, or RNS/DBS deep brain reactive stimulation after strict evaluation, to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures through neuromodulation.

1. Precise positioning and minimally invasive surgery : SEEG EEG and MRI provide real-time guidance to precisely deliver electrodes and optical fibers to the lesion, avoiding extensive craniotomy.
2. Preserves brain and function : Laser interstitial hyperthermia involves only a 3 mm puncture with minimal bleeding, preserving surrounding normal brain tissue and cognitive function to the greatest extent possible.
3. Benefits even without resection : Neuromodulation such as VNS/RNS is suitable for children with multifocal, generalized or inoperable diseases, and the number of seizures can be reduced by more than half after surgery.
4. Not accessible by drugs : The ketogenic diet does not require surgery and can be implemented at home with the help of a nutritionist, covering drug-resistant and metabolic causes.
5. Multidisciplinary Center : The secondary epilepsy center integrates pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, imaging, nutrition, and electrophysiology to provide individualized selection of medications, diets, treatments, and surgical approaches.

Network of partner hospitals

Recommended Hospitals

Selected leading medical centers with strong specialties and international patient services.

Beijing Children's Hospital (School of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center), Capital Medical University

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Beijing Children's Hospital (School of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center), Capital Medical University

Pediatrics

The hospital is the National Children's Medical Center (Beijing) and also houses the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, the National Childhood Cancer Monitoring Center, the Key Laboratory of Major Pediatric Diseases Research of the Ministry of Education, the National Pediatric Drug Clinical Trial Platform, and the National Standardized Training Base for Pediatric Specialists. Since the release of the Fudan University's ranking of Chinese hospitals by specialty reputation in 2010, the hospital has consistently ranked first in "Pediatric Surgery" and second in "Pediatric Internal Medicine" for many years; and since 2015, it has consistently ranked first in the Chinese hospital science and technology evaluation (pediatrics) ranking.1. Historical Origins and Spiritual Inheritance

Year Founded: 1942
Beds: 2170

Children's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (National Children's Medical Center)

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Children's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (National Children's Medical Center)

Pediatrics

The hospital is a national key discipline in pediatrics, a member of the National 985 Project and the Double First-Class Initiative, and was among the first in the country to be granted authorization to grant master's and doctoral degrees in pediatrics and to establish a postdoctoral research station in clinical medicine. In 2017, it was approved as the National Children's Medical Center (Shanghai), and in 2020, it was approved as the National Pediatric Medical Quality Control Center. Its pediatrics department consistently ranks among the top in the Chinese Hospital Science and Technology Evaluation Ranking and the Chinese Hospital Best Specialty Reputation Ranking, and for many consecutive years, it has ranked first in pediatric internal medicine and second in pediatric surgery in the Chinese Hospital Specialty Reputation Ranking.

Year Founded: 1952
Beds: 1000

Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Pediatrics

The hospital has two campuses, one in Yangpu and one in Fengxian. The Yangpu campus is located at 1665 Kongjiang Road, covering an area of 109 acres; the Fengxian campus is located at 6688 Dongfang Meigu Avenue, Fengxian District, and officially opened on June 28, 2025. It covers an area of 152 acres with a total building area of 256,000 square meters, and is the first comprehensive tertiary hospital in Fengxian District. The hospital has 2,700 beds and 5,100 employees. It has 63 clinical and medical technology departments and treatment platforms, including internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. It is equipped with advanced equipment such as TOMO and surgical robots, and has built a health service system covering the entire life cycle from 0 to 100 years old.

Year Founded: 1958
Beds: 2700

Shanghai Children's Medical Center (National Children's Medical Center), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Shanghai Children's Medical Center (National Children's Medical Center), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Pediatrics

1. Historical Origins and Spiritual Inheritance Shanghai Children's Medical Center is a tertiary-level Class A children's specialist hospital integrating medical treatment, scientific research, and teaching. It was jointly built by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and Project HOPE in the 1990s and officially opened in 1998. Comrade Jiang Zemin inscribed the hospital's name. In 2017, it was approved as a National Children's Medical Center. Adhering to the principle of "everything for children," t

Year Founded: 1998
Beds: 1500

Leading Specialists

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

Zhang Hao

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, President of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Director of the Heart Center, Director of Shanghai Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Childhood Diseases

Pediatrics

-Research areas : Complex congenital heart disease in children, pulmonary hypertension in children, rare cardiovascular genetic diseases; - Areas of expertise: Surgical correction of complex congenital heart disease, Potts shunt for pulmonary hypertension, and full life-cycle management of congenital heart disease; - Areas of expertise: Complete transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary atresia, functional single ventricle, and refractory pulmonary hypertension in children; - Academic Highlights & Co

Affiliated Hospital Shanghai Children's Medical Center (National Children's Medical Center), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Huang Guoying

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, former Director of the Children's Hospital, and Academic Leader of the Cardiovascular Center

Pediatrics

-Research areas : congenital heart disease in children, Kawasaki disease, and hereditary cardiovascular diseases in children; - Areas of expertise: Non-invasive screening for congenital heart disease in newborns, fetal echocardiography assessment, and perioperative critical care management of complex congenital heart disease; - Areas of expertise: Complex congenital heart disease, Kawasaki disease, hereditary cardiomyopathy, and refractory arrhythmias in children; - Academic Highlights & Core Values: Head

Affiliated Hospital Beijing Children's Hospital (School of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center), Capital Medical University

Gu Longjun

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Leading Expert in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Pediatrics

-Research areas : Childhood leukemia, childhood malignant solid tumors; - Areas of expertise: Stratified individualized chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and immunotherapy for childhood tumors; - Diseases specializing in: Acute and chronic childhood leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma; - Academic Highlights & Core Values: One of the pioneers in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood leukemia in China, establishing a tiered treatment plan for childhood allergic rheumatoid arthritis (

Affiliated Hospital Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Zhang Yongjun

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Director of Pediatrics, Head of Neonatology Subspecialty

Pediatrics

-Research areas : Critical newborn care, neonatal brain injury, organ protection for premature infants; - Areas of expertise: Comprehensive treatment of extremely low birth weight premature infants, neuroprotection of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; - Areas of expertise: Extremely premature infants, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis; - Academic Highlights & Core Values: Head of a National Specialty Department of Neonatal Health Care, established a critica

Affiliated Hospital Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Chen Jing

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Director of Hematologic Oncology Department

Pediatrics

-Research areas : Pediatric hematologic malignancies, primary immunodeficiency diseases, lysosomal storage diseases, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; - Areas of expertise: Allogeneic/umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, selective T-cell depletion transplantation; - Areas of expertise: Mucopolysaccharidosis, Gaucher disease, primary immunodeficiency diseases, relapsed and refractory leukemia; - Academic Highlights & Core Values: Pioneer of mucopolysaccharidosis transpla

Affiliated Hospital Shanghai Children's Medical Center (National Children's Medical Center), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Yuan Xiaojun

Director of the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Chief Physician, Master's Supervisor.

Pediatrics

Research Areas : Clinical diagnosis and treatment of pediatric hematologic disorders and malignant tumors, with a particular focus on multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment of pediatric solid tumors. Cutting-Edge Technologies: Pioneered and implemented the MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) approach for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric solid tumors in China, and authored the Chinese "Expert Consensus on Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatoblastoma in Children" and other treatment guide

Affiliated Hospital Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Patient Stories

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Congenital Right Radial Paraaxial Hemilimb Deformity - Reshaping the Wings of a

CASE 01

PATIENT JOURNEY

Congenital Right Radial Paraaxial Hemilimb Deformity - Reshaping the Wings of a "Fallen Angel" - A Dual Reconstruction of Structure and Function

OrthopedicsPediatrics

Patient records: Name: Dara Age: 5 years old Nationality: Cambodia Diagnosis: Congenital right radial paraaxial hemilimb deformity (congenital limb malformation) Treatment Hospital: Beijing Children's Hospital (Orthopedics), Capital Medical University From "no thumb" to "regaining syndesmosis," we've given wings to angels. Five-year-old Dara is from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She's a cheerful girl, but she was born without a right thumb. Her right hand resembles a small fork, with only four fingers, making it

View case details →

Methylmalonic acidemia - Deciphering the

CASE 02

PATIENT JOURNEY

Methylmalonic acidemia - Deciphering the "metabolic code" to help "special" babies grow normally.

Internal MedicinePediatrics

Patient records: Name: Mei Ling Age: 3 months Nationality: Malaysia Diagnosis: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), combined type Treatment Hospital: Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Decoding Genetic Defects: A Lifelong Battle for Precision Nutrition Meiling was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Shortly after birth, she began experiencing recurrent vomiting, lethargy, and feeding difficulties, and quickly developed metabolic acidosis and severe anemia. Local hospitals

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Congenital Scoliosis - Unshackled by the

CASE 03

PATIENT JOURNEY

Congenital Scoliosis - Unshackled by the "Butterfly Spine," Rebuilding the Pillar of Life

OrthopedicsPediatrics

Patient records: Name: Nguyen Age: 6 years old Nationality: Vietnamese Diagnosis: Congenital scoliosis (hemievertebral malformation) Treatment Hospital: Shanghai Children's Medical Center (National Children's Medical Center), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Precise removal of "bad bone" straightens a curved spine. Six-year-old Nguyen Van from Hanoi, Vietnam, was shorter than other children from a young age, and a bulge on his back grew increasingly noticeable. He was afrai

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CASE 04

PATIENT JOURNEY

Biliary Atresia - Illuminating a "Golden Childhood": A 60-Day Race Against Jaundice

HepatobiliaryPediatrics

Patient records: Name: Budi Age: 45 days Nationality: Indonesia Diagnosis: Biliary atresia Treatment Hospital: Children's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (National Children's Medical Center) During the 60-day golden window, we rebuild the river of life for children with gallbladder deficiency. Budi was born in Surabaya, Indonesia. Like all newborns, he developed neonatal jaundice. However, unlike others, his jaundice persisted, and his stools became increasingly pale, eventually turning a horribly

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Service Process

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Childhood epilepsyTreatment in China

Childhood epilepsy Treatment in China

Recommended Hospitals

Beijing Children's Hospital (School of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center), Capital Medical University

Children's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (National Children's Medical Center)

Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Shanghai Children's Medical Center (National Children's Medical Center), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Congenital Right Radial Paraaxial Hemilimb Deformity - Reshaping the Wings of a "Fallen Angel" - A Dual Reconstruction of Structure and Function

Methylmalonic acidemia - Deciphering the "metabolic code" to help "special" babies grow normally.

Congenital Scoliosis - Unshackled by the "Butterfly Spine," Rebuilding the Pillar of Life

Biliary Atresia - Illuminating a "Golden Childhood": A 60-Day Race Against Jaundice

Congenital esophageal atresia (Gross type III) - Building a "new bridge" for the "blocked" lifeline

Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplant: When "Not Living Past One Year Old" Becomes a Prophecy—A Mongolian Mother's Journey of "Saving Her Son by Donating Part of Her Liver"

Cerebral Palsy in Children: Unlocking the "Compressed Spring"—A Kazakh Family Finds a Precise Answer in China

A clear, coordinated process for efficient cross-border care

Pre-Visit Services

Remote Consultations

Travel Arrangements

Comprehensive Support in China

Post-Visit Services

Get a Care Planand Cost Estimate.

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Childhood epilepsy
Treatment in China

Get a Care Plan
and Cost Estimate.