In a new study that was conducted by researchers at the University of California and Brown University, it was discovered that the temperature may induce epileptic seizures.
During this study, researchers found that heat can cause epileptic patients to have a seizure. They now have created a platform that can be used to develop better epilepsy treatments. The results of this study were published in the October 10 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, and shows that a genetic disease mutation can be used figure out just what triggers epileptic seizures. Diane O’Dowd and Robert Reenan led the research that studied fruit flies.
“What happens is the mutant channels don’t open and close properly,” says O’Dowd. “This effect is amplified at high temperature and this changes the ability of neurons to generate the appropriate electrical signals, leading to hyperactivity in the brain circuits. With this knowledge, the next step is to use this model to look for drugs that might reduce or eliminate heat-induced seizures.”
Heat-induced seizures generally happen to kids, but 1 in 100 kids that have heat-seizures outgrow the condition by the time they are five. Epilepsy is a condition that millions of people worldwide suffer from. Researchers believe that learning just how seizures are triggered can help scientists find faster ways to diagnose epilepsy and create safer, more effective ways to treat it. Topamax is a prescription epilepsy treatment that is used to prevent seizures. The drug is also used as a migraine treatment. However, Topamax’s side effects make it a drug that is not usable for some patients, including women of childbearing age.
Topamax has been proven to cause birth defects in babies whose mothers take the drugs while pregnant. Some of those birth defects include PPHN, spina bifida, oral clefts, heart, lung and brain defects and neural tube problems.
If your child was born with birth defects because of exposure to Topamax, 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 injuries.