Epilepsy

General Information on Epilepsy

Epilepsy is defined as a brain disorder involving unprovoked, recurring seizures of multiple simultaneous forms. Seizures are episodes of neurological dysfunction that are characterized by a lack of muscle control and changes of behavior and/or attention. There are two primary categories of seizures. These include partial seizures, in which only a portion of the brain is involved, and generalized seizures, in which the entire brain is involved. Each category results in different types of seizures. Although epilepsy affects people of all ages, there are certain forms which are transient and may only exists for a few years. However, most people develop epilepsy between the ages of 2 and 14 and remain afflicted with the condition their entire life.

Symptoms of Epilepsy

There are two categories of seizures, generalized seizures and partial seizures. Each exhibit different symptoms according to the different seizure types.

Generalized Seizures:

- Absence (petit mal) - brief loss of consciousness
- Tonic-clonic (grand mal) - complete loss of consciousness, falling, urine incontinence (loss of bladder control), and jerking movements
- Myoclonic - brief jerking movements

Partial Seizures:

Simple Partial - patient remains conscious, numbness, weakness, unusual smells or tastes, muscle twitching, visual alterations, vertigo, and the turning of the head to the side may all occur.

Complex Partial - Patient experiences an altered state of consciousness, automatic repetitive behavior, uncontrolled laughing, strangeness of thought, fear, odd smells and odors, and hallucinations

Treatments For Epilepsy

Medical tests used for diagnosis usually include blood studies, brains scans, and a study of the brain’s electrical activity through the use of an EEG reading. After a correct diagnosis has been made the first step in treatment is usually drug therapy. Sometimes a devise may be implanted within the neck providing an electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve in order to aid in the prevention of seizures. In some circumstances the brain can be operated upon in order to disrupt certain nerve pathways in the brain or to remove a small non-vital portion of the brain responsible for the occurrence of the seizures. If you or your child are experiencing symptoms similar to those listed above consult your doctor immediately for further examination.

Personal Experience

Epilepsy - personal experiences