Travoltas Faced Tough Calls in Jett's Treatment

An autopsy later today may answer the questions surrounding Jett Travolta's untimely death, but the seizures he suffered remain largely shrouded in mystery. Epilepsy is a catch-all diagnosis for those who suffer seizures—which can be caused by infections, autism, head trauma, even medications, a neurologist tells USA Today. Treatment can be painful, and is ineffective a third of the time.

Seizure medications carry serious side effects, including liver damage and dizzy spells. Children comprise 30% of the 180,000 epilepsy cases that develop annually, leaving parents like the Travoltas to make difficult decisions about treatment. They also have to keep a constant eye on the child, since falling and drowning are the leading causes of death by seizure.
(More seizure stories.)