On the morning of 22/05/2026, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital organized a scientific workshop on the theme “Updates in the diagnosis and treatment of seizures and epilepsy in children”, providing a forum for sharing real-world clinical experience and the latest advances in pediatric neurology. The workshop attracted many national and international experts, along with a large number of physicians from hospitals and healthcare facilities across Viet Nam.
The scientific workshop was a wonderful gathering that welcomed 246 domestic and international delegates.
Seizures and epilepsy in children: common yet complex conditions
Seizures and epilepsy are among the most common pediatric neurological disorders, but they are often complex, requiring a comprehensive approach and long-term follow-up. Beyond the management of acute seizure episodes, these conditions can profoundly affect a child’s physical development, cognition, behavior, and learning capacity.
Clinical practice shows that presentations vary widely depending on age and etiology. In neonates, seizures may be related to perinatal brain injury, metabolic disorders, structural central nervous system abnormalities associated with genetic factors, or infection. In older children, many paroxysmal events can be subtle and may be misinterpreted as non-epileptic conditions—making differential diagnosis challenging.
Rapid advances in modern medicine have significantly changed approaches to epilepsy diagnosis and management. With advances in genetics, neuroimaging, and specialized EEG techniques—alongside modern treatments such as neuromodulation, immunotherapy, and other interventions—new approaches are increasingly being applied in clinical practice. This creates an urgent need for continuous knowledge updating and experience sharing among treatment centers, particularly in pediatrics.
The workshop helped participants strengthen knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric seizures and epilepsy.
Opening remarks and international participation
In his opening remarks, Dr. Cao Viet Tung, Vice Director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, expressed sincere greetings and thanks to all delegates, experts, and colleagues. He noted with appreciation the presence of international experts, including:
- Prof. Yves Ouellette, PhD – Mayo Clinic Hospital (USA)
- Prof. Lily Wong-Kisiel, PhD – Head of the Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Hospital (USA)
- Dr. Chen-Yen Kuo, MD – Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan), also a research fellow at Mayo Clinic Hospital (USA)
Dr. Cao Viet Tung emphasized that, as a national tertiary referral pediatric hospital, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital not only provides clinical care but also plays a leading role in developing highly specialized fields, including pediatric neurology. The Hospital also prioritizes training, technical transfer, and international cooperation to disseminate expertise across the national pediatric healthcare system.
Dr. Cao Viet Tung expressed hope that the workshop would further strengthen professional cooperation, research, and training between Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and international partners, ultimately improving treatment outcomes for children.
Prof. Yves Ouellette shared reflections on many years of collaboration with Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and expressed continued commitment to working with Vietnamese colleagues in pediatric neurology.
Scientific program highlights
At the workshop, experts from Mayo Clinic and Vietnam National Children’s Hospital presented multiple in-depth, clinically relevant scientific reports, including:
- Prof. Lily Wong-Kisiel: “Updates on neonatal seizures”
- Dr. Chen-Yen Kuo: “Neuromodulation in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy”
- Dr. Cao Vu Hung – Director, Neurology Center, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital: “Should first seizure be treated?”
- Dr. Do Thanh Huong – Neurology Center, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital: “Convulsions associated with gastroenteritis”
- Dr. Nguyen Thi Van – Neurology Center, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital: “Paroxysmal non-epileptic events”
- Dr. Dao Thi Nguyet – Neurology Center, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital: “Autoimmune-related epilepsy”
The presentations were highly up-to-date, strongly linked to clinical practice, and received significant attention. Professional questions were raised and answered directly in the hall, helping clarify key issues in diagnosis and treatment.
Domestic and international experts shared experience and updated advances in pediatric seizure and epilepsy management.
Dr. Cao Viet Tung presented appreciation gifts and certificates to experts and speakers.
Delegates engaged in discussions and received direct responses from experts during the workshop.
With a rich scientific agenda and participation from many reputable national and international experts, the workshop “Updates in the diagnosis and treatment of seizures and epilepsy in children” provided strong academic value and strengthened international professional collaboration—toward the goal of improving the quality of diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive care for children with neurological disorders in Viet Nam.
