Pediatric Epilepsy in the Screen Society

The eruption of digital technologies and ICT has meant that, in recent decades, there has been an enormous presence of screens in people's lives and, above all, among children and young people. This is particularly worrying in the case of photosensitive epilepsy and other conditions, which are more prevalent in the first decades of life when individuals are more sensitive to these stimuli. Television, video games, computer monitors, disco and concert panels and lights, and new virtual or augmented reality systems generate light effects and patterns that can trigger photosensitive seizures. Notably, such exposure, especially fluctuating between 15 to 20 Hz, has been linked to triggering epileptic events not only in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy but also across other idiopathic generalized epilepsies.

We are talking about a problem that is undoubtedly growing due to the characteristics of our current society and our continuous coexistence with screens. This is demonstrated by the fact that epilepsy is the most prevalent serious neurological condition, affecting approximately 70 million people worldwide. Furthermore, between 2% and 14% of these individuals may experience seizures triggered by visual stimuli often found in our increasingly digitized environments. Therefore, it is a highly topical issue with multiple approaches (neurological, pediatric, educational, social, etc.) that can and should be addressed from many specialties, and preventive measures are crucial.

The primary objective of this Research Topic is to offer contrasted and rigorous information, supported by high-quality scientific articles, on how the prevalence of digital screens in our society influences epilepsy, particularly in children and young adults. With an emphasis on both understanding triggers and exploring preventative approaches, the goal is to advance knowledge in identifying risks and implementing effective strategies, including exploring optimal screen time recommendations. The evidence suggests an urgent need for informed guidelines and interventions, especially in educational settings, to manage and possibly mitigate the impact of digital media on epileptic incidents. For example, all teachers should know the guidelines for dealing with a student's epileptic seizure.

In this Research Topic, we welcome all article types accepted by the journal from various fields of knowledge, specialties, and methodologies contributing to a better understanding of this complex problem. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Studies focused on light-induced epileptic triggers, and the impact of screen exposure in various settings.
• Technological innovations and lifestyle adjustments that could reduce screen-related epileptic risks.
• The effectiveness of various treatment protocols and prevention strategies.
• Psychological and public health perspectives on managing epilepsy in digital contexts.
• The socio-educational impacts, such as guidelines for school personnel on managing seizures

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Epilepsy, Neurology, Photosensitivity, Prevention, Health Education, Treatments, Epileptic Syndromes

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.