Outpatient Ketogenic Therapy Safe for Infants Under 18 Months
⚠️ Infant dosing/safety: medication and diet decisions for infants require individualized medical guidance.
Source: Journal of child neurology
Summary
Researchers studied the use of ketogenic therapy, a special diet that can help control seizures, in infants aged 18 months or younger. They looked at the medical records of 37 infants who started this therapy at Phoenix Children's Hospital between 2011 and 2022. The goal was to see if starting the therapy at home (outpatient) was safe and effective compared to the usual practice of starting it in the hospital.
The study found that 62% of the infants experienced a significant reduction in seizures, with at least half of their seizures decreasing. However, many infants also faced side effects, with 86% reporting issues like constipation, vomiting, and acidosis. Most of these side effects were managed at home, but a small number of infants (12%) needed to be hospitalized for further treatment.
This research is important because it shows that starting ketogenic therapy at home can be a safe option for young infants with hard-to-treat epilepsy. However, the study also highlights that many infants experienced side effects, which caregivers should be aware of. The findings are based on a small group of patients, so more research is needed to confirm these results and understand the long-term effects of this therapy.
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