EPILEPSY: A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION
ESHA AZHAR
ROLL NO: 30
What Is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory
disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical
activity in the brain and throughout the body. The largest symptom of epilepsy is the
epileptic seizure. Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply
stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or
legs.
Symptoms
I. Short spells of blackout, or confused memory.
II. For a short period, the person is unresponsive to instructions or questions.
III. The person suddenly falls for no clear reason.
IV. For a short time the person seems dazed and unable to communicate.
V. Repetitive movements that seem inappropriate.
VI. The person becomes fearful for no apparent reason; they may even panic or
become angry.
VII. The arms, legs, or body jerk, in babies these will appear as a cluster of rapid
jerking movements.
What Causes Epilepsy?
I. A brain injury, such as from a car crash or bike accident
II. An infection or illness that affected the developing brain of a fetus during pregnancy
III. Lack of oxygen to an infant's brain during childbirth
IV. Meningitis, encephalitis, or any other type of infection that affects the brain
V. Brain tumors or strokes
VI. Poisoning, such as lead or alcohol poisoning
Epilepsy is not contagious .It's not inherited in the same way that blue eyes or brown hair
are. But someone who has a close relative with epilepsy has a slightly higher risk for it than
somebody with no family history of seizures.
Seizure
A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. The electrical activity is caused
by complex chemical changes that occur in nerve cells. Brain cells either excite or inhibit
(stop) other brain cells from sending messages. Usually there is a balance of cells that excite
and those that can stop these messages..
Types of Seizures
There are three main types of seizure:-
a. Generalized onset seizures
These seizures affect both sides of the brain or groups of cells on both sides of the
brain at the same time. This term was used before and still includes seizures types
like tonic-clonic, absence, or atonic to name a few.
b. Focal onset seizures
The term focal is used instead of partial to be more accurate when talking about
where seizures begin. Focal seizures can start in one area or group of cells in one
side of the brain. A person having a partial seizure may lose consciousness,
twitching in hand, arm, leg or foot. Feel tingling sensation throughout one side of
the body
c. Unknown onset seizures
When the beginning of a seizure is not known, its now called an unknown
witnessed or seen by anyone, for example when seizures happen at night or in a
person who lives alone. An unknown onset seizure may later be diagnosed as a
focal or generalized seizure.
There are a certain things that can sometimes trigger a seizure in people with epilepsy:-
a) Flashing or bright lights
b) Lack of sleep
c) Stress
d) Overstimulation (like staring at a computer screen or playing video games
for too long)
e) Fever
f) Certain medications
g) Hyperventilation (breathing too fast or too deeply)
Epilepsy Treatments
If an underlying correctable brain condition is causing the seizures, sometimes surgery can
stop them. If epilepsy is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe seizure-preventing drugs or
anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). These includes the following:-
Acetazolamide Carbamazepine Clobazam
Clonazepam Eslicarbazepine acetate Zonisamide
Ethosuximide Gabapentin Lacosamide Vigabatrin
Lamotrigine Levetiracetam Nitrazepam
Oxcarbazepine Perampanel Piracetam
Phenobarbital Phenytoin Pregabalin
Primidone Rufinamide Tiagabine Topiramate
