FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2002
Pediatric
Epilepsy Specialist Joins Medical Staff At
JFK Medial Center
EDISON - JFK Medical Center is pleased to announce Roopal M. Karia, MD., a pediatric epilepsy specialist, has joined the medical staff of its New Jersey Neuroscience Institute.
“Dr. Karia’s appointment will strengthen our ability to care for children and adolescents suffering from seizures,” said Martin Gizzi, M.D., medical director of the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute. “We currently offer the largest and most comprehensive Epilepsy Program in the state, and Dr Karia will bring added expertise and experience in both diagnosing and treating seizures in children.”
Pediatric epilepsy specialists are trained in pediatrics, neurology and epilepsy. Pediatric seizures occur in approximately 5% of all children - and can be seen at any age from infancy through childhood - and even into adolescence.
“About 25% of the time, pediatric seizures are recurrent and without an underlying cause,” says Dr. Karia. “When this is the case, a diagnosis of epilepsy is given.”
According to Dr. Karia, there are many different types of seizures in children. One of the most common is called an absence seizure where a child is noticed to be staring briefly and does not respond. These may occur several times in a day and are often first noticed by teachers. The child is thought to be daydreaming and not paying attention. In actuality, there is a brief impairment of the child’s consciousness during the spell compromising their learning for that period of time. Other types of seizures involve impairment of consciousness associated with zoning spells. Affected individuals may have trouble getting the right words out in conversations and appear to be confused. Clumsiness in the morning, jerks of the body during drowsiness or on awakening can also be part of the seizure spectrum. Severe seizures involve shaking of all the extremities with loss of consciousness.
The workup for a person with seizures include a thorough evaluation by their doctors, an MRI of the brain and an EEG study. An EEG is a recording of the electrical activity in the brain. This can be done as an outpatient test or as a video EEG test. “During the video EEG, the patient comes into the hospital and stays for several days while a continuous EEG is performed,” explains Dr. Karia. The video recording of the patient allows us to see the behavior during the seizure simultaneously with the EEG. Hence, we can see what part of the brain is involved giving the seizures” says Dr. Karia.
Dr. Karia attended medical school at the University of South Florida at Tampa, and completed a Pediatric Residency at Northshore University Hospital in Manhasset. Her Fellowship in Pediatric Neurology was done at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. A Fellowship in epilepsy and neurophysiology was done in New Brunswick.
“Epilepsy can become a serious problem if left untreated. But, with the advanced diagnostic tests and treatment options available at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute, it can be managed and patients can live healthy, normal lives,” stresses Dr. Karia.
The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center provides some of the most advance treatment in the tri-state area for both adult and pediatric neurological conditions. The comprehensive programs available at the Institute include treatment for cerebral vascular diseases (Stroke Treatment Program), epilepsy, brain and spinal cord tumors, dementia (Alzheimer's), diseases of the spine, dizziness and balance disorders, movement disorders, pain management, sleep disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center - please call 732-321-7010.