According to new research, HPV (human papillomavirus) has been linked to childhood epilepsy. This information was recently published in the Annals of Neurology and was conducted by scientists at Shriner’s Hospital Pediatric Research Center at the Temple University School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania.

The researchers have basically shown that HPV16 exists in the brain and that when they added viral proteins to the brains of fetal mice, all of the mice were born with developmental problems that were linked to epilepsy. What this means is that doctors are going to have to find a new way to treat this specific type of epilepsy as well as finding alternative treatments for HPV.

“This is a novel mechanism, and it fills a gap in our understanding about the development of congenital brain malformations,” said senior author Peter Crino, MD, PhD, professor of neurology at Temple University School of Medicine, and a member of Shriner’s Hospital Pediatric Research Center. “If our data are correct, future treatment of cortical dysplasia could include targeted therapy against HPV16 infection, with the goal of halting seizures. Identifying an infectious agent as part of the pathogenesis of brain malformations could open up an array of new therapeutic approaches against various forms of epilepsy.”

Epilepsy is a common condition that is suffered by millions of people worldwide. Epilepsy research has long been focused on finding a safe and effective treatment to prevent seizures. For now, the majority of patients are being treated with various prescription medications that can often post dangerous side effects that are worse than the condition the drug is used to treat. One of those medications is Topamax. Topamax has been linked to babies being born with birth defects, including PPHN, oral clefts, spina bifida and neural tube defects when the mothers take the pills while pregnant. Topamax has also been linked to autism in some children.

If your baby has suffered from birth defects after being exposed to Topamax in-utero, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your child’s injury.