Is following a ketogenic diet as effective as surgery for epilepsy?

For some children: Many children who go on a ketogenic diet have already tried multiple anti-convulsion medications without effective seizure control or with intolerable side effects. About a third of children who go on this diet become completely seizure-free. It isn't for everyone and it requires close monitoring, supervision and often vitamin and mineral supplementation but it really does work for many children.

Diet vs surgery: The ketogenic diet and surgery are two approaches to reduce or control seizures. Surgery is directed at localized areas of brain from which seizures are triggered. The ketogenic diet is most often used for medication resistent seizures that are generalized forms of epilepsy or seizure syndromes. They are not usuallly interchangeable.

Dr Ali agreed