Question

Lindsey T. is a 12 year old middle school student who was diagnosed with clonic-tonic seizures 6 months ago. Although she has always performed well in school, she has started having difficulty in her classes because she is falling asleep in class and has trouble concentrating. Her mother complains that she is "not her usual self" and seems listless and depressed. She recently went for her regular dental checkup and had five new carious lesions, although she has always had good checkups before. She is taking carbamazepine chewable tablets four times a day to manage her seizure disorder but still has seizures when she has her menstrual cycle or is under a lot of stress.

Which factors could be contributing to the problems with her schoolwork?
A. Staying up too late studying
B. Aplastic anemia caused by the carbamazepine
C. Sleep problems caused by the onset of menstrual cycles
D. Adverse effects on the CNS from carbamazepine

Answer 1

Lindsey T.'s difficulties in schoolwork may be due to the central nervous system side effects of carbamazepine, the onset of menstrual cycles causing additional stress and affecting sleep, and the overall stress related to managing her seizures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lindsey T. is a 12-year-old middle school student who was diagnosed with clonic-tonic seizures and is experiencing new challenges in her school performance.

The factors contributing to the problems with her schoolwork could include:

• Adverse effects on the CNS from carbamazepine which Lindsey is using to manage her seizure disorder. Common side effects of this medication include drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and mood changes such as depression, which mirror the symptoms described by Lindsey's mother.
• The onset of menstrual cycles, which can cause physical and emotional changes, including stress, that could exacerbate Lindsey's seizures and affect her sleep and concentration.
• Additionally, managing a chronic health condition like epilepsy often leads to increased stress, which Lindsey has been identified as having seizures in response to, further contributing to her challenges in school.

While factors like staying up late studying or aplastic anemia as a side effect of carbamazepine are plausible the information provided does not explicitly link these to Lindsey's school difficulties at this time.