EPILEPSY AND SEIZURES

By Ujala Cygnus

Reviewed by : Jalaz Jain

January 28, 2023

Overview

Recurrent seizures caused by neurological conditions are followed by episodes of strange behaviour and, occasionally, loss of awareness and orientation—the aberrant electric activity in the brain that causes seizures. However, seizures are not harmful unless the patient is driving or travelling, which may be fatal.

The following categories of seizures have been created based on the abnormal brain activity they exhibit:

Simple partial seizures are another name for this kind of seizure, which doesn’t result in unconsciousness but instead causes rapid movements in the extremities and sensory symptoms like tingling, numbness, and dizziness.

: Complex partial seizures, as they are also known, are characterised by a patient’s loss of consciousness or awareness. Patients typically become unresponsive and display specific repetitive actions, such as rolling their fingers, walking in a circle, and unceasingly gazing forth.

They are also known as “petit mal seizures,” are more frequently observed in children and are characterised by a brief loss of awareness and a blank stare over the surroundings. They may also produce repetitive movements like blinking or lip-smacking, lasting only 5 to 10 seconds.

The acute muscle stiffness they generate in the legs, arms, or trunk raises a person’s risk of falling.

The hallmark of these, often known as “drop seizures,” is loss of muscle control. Most often, the muscles in the legs are affected.

Clonic seizures are characterised by jerky, repetitive facial and neck muscular movements.

Arms and legs twitch quickly and spontaneously due to myoclonic seizures. These seizures can occasionally group together.

Grand mal seizures are another name for tonic-clonic seizures. The body stiffens, shakes, loses control of one’s urine or bowels, bites one’s tongue, and eventually loses consciousness.

Causes

Including meningitis, HIV/AIDS, stroke, brain tumour, high-grade fever, traumatic brain injury, lack of oxygen to the brain, brain scarring, and post-traumatic epilepsy.

Diagnosis

Neurological Exam: The physician accesses the patient’s motor, sensory, and mental functions to ascertain the type of epilepsy that is present.

C.T. scan to identify anomalies in the structural makeup of the brain; • Electroencephalogram (EEG) to capture the electrical activity of the brain.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) aids in visualising brain metabolism and so identifying anomalies.

High-density EEG, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),

Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT),

Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM)

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Treatment

Options include brain surgery, vague nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, responsive neurostimulation, and anti-epileptic medications such as lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and topiramate.

include age, family history, and stroke. Common in children, although it can happen to anyone at any age. Brain infections and complications from dementia

Complications

Risks to mother and child include fractures sustained while driving, drowning when swimming, depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and pregnancy difficulties.

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