Definition
Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving repeated seizures of any type.
Symptoms
The severity of symptoms can vary greatly, from simple staring spells to loss of consciousness and violent convulsions. For many patients, the event is the same thing over and over, while some people have many different types of seizures that cause different symptoms each time. The type of seizure a person has depends on a variety of many things, such as the part of the brain affected and the underlying cause of the seizure.
An aura consisting of a strange sensation (such as tingling, smell, or emotional changes) occurs in some people prior to each seizure. Seizures may occur repeatedly ...
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Definition
Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving repeated seizures of any type.
Symptoms
The severity of symptoms can vary greatly, from simple staring spells to loss of consciousness and violent convulsions. For many patients, the event is the same thing over and over, while some people have many different types of seizures that cause different symptoms each time. The type of seizure a person has depends on a variety of many things, such as the part of the brain affected and the underlying cause of the seizure.
An aura consisting of a strange sensation (such as tingling, smell, or emotional changes) occurs in some people prior to each seizure. Seizures may occur repeatedly without explanation.
Note: Disorders that may cause symptoms resembling seizures include transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), rage or panic attacks, and other disorders ...
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Causes
Seizures ("fits") are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention or behavior. They are caused by abnormal excited electrical signals in the brain.
Sometimes seizures are related to a temporary condition, such as exposure to drugs, withdrawal from certain drugs, or abnormal levels of sodium or glucose in the blood. In such cases, repeated seizures may not recur once the underlying problem is corrected.
In other cases, injury to the brain (for example, stroke or head injury) causes brain tissue to be abnormally excitable. In some people, an inherited abnormality affects nerve cells in the brain, which leads to seizures.
Some seizures are idiopathic, which means the cause can not be identified. Such seizures usually begin between ...
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Treatment
For treatment of seizures, please see Seizures - first aid.
If an underlying cause for recurrent seizures (such as infection) has been identified and treated, seizures may stop. Treatment may include surgery to repair a tumors or brain lesions.
Anti-convulsants taken by mouth may reduce the number of future seizures. How well medicine works depends on each individual's response to the drug. The type of medicine used depends on seizure type, and dosage may need to be adjusted from time to time. Some seizure types respond well to one medication and may respond poorly (or even be made worse) by others. Some medications need to be monitored for side effects and blood levels.
Epilepsy that does not respond to the use ...
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Possible Complications
- Prolonged seizures or numerous seizures without complete recovery between them (status epilepticus)
- Injury from falls, bumps, or self-inflicted bites
- Injury from having a seizure while driving or operating machinery
- Inhaling fluid into the lungs and subsequent aspiration pneumonia
- Permanent brain damage ( stroke or other damage)
- Difficulty with learning
- Side effects of medications
- Many anti-epileptic medications cause birth defects -- women wishing to become pregnant should alert their doctor in advance in order to adjust medications
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Outlook (Prognosis)
Epilepsy may be a chronic , lifelong condition. In some cases, the need for medications may be reduced or eliminated over time. Certain types of childhood epilepsy resolve or improve with age. A seizure-free period of 4 years may indicate that reduction or elimination of medications is possible.
Death or permanent brain damage from seizures is rare, but can occur if the seizure is prolonged or 2 or more seizures occur close together (status epilepticus). Death or brain damage are most often caused by prolonged lack of breathing and resultant death of brain tissue from lack of oxygen. There are some cases of sudden, unexplained death in patients with epilepsy.
Serious injury can occur if a seizure occurs during driving or when operating dangerous equipment, so these activities may be restricted for people with poorly controlled ...
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Prevention
Generally, there is no known way to prevent epilepsy. However, adequate diet and sleep, and abstinence from drugs and alcohol, may decrease the likelihood of precipitating a seizure in people with epilepsy.
Reduce the risk of head injury by wearing helmets during risky activities; this can help lessen the chance of developing epilepsy.
Exams and Tests
The diagnosis of epilepsy and seizure disorders requires a history of recurrent seizures of any type. A physical examination (including a detailed neuromuscular examination) may be normal, or it may show abnormal brain function related to specific areas of the brain.
An electroencephalograph ( EEG ), a reading of the electrical activity in the brain, may confirm the presence of various types of seizures. It may, in some cases, indicate the location of the lesion causing the seizure. EEGs can often be normal in between seizures, so it may be necessary to do prolonged EEG monitoring.
Tests may include various blood tests to rule out other temporary and reversible causes of seizures, including:
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Support Groups
The stress caused by having seizures (or being a caretaker of someone with seizures) can often be helped by joining a support group. In these groups, members share common experiences and problems. See epilepsy - support group .
