EPILEPSY

What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. A seizure is a sudden
rush of electrical activity in the brain.

There are two main types of seizures. Generalized seizures affect the whole brain. Focal, or
partial seizures, affect just one part of the brain.

Causes of epilepsy
Epilepsy may develop after a brain injury or insult. Severe lack of oxygen at birth (asphyxia),
head injury, brain infections (meningitis and encephalitis) may lead to epilepsy. This is called
symptomatic epilepsy or secondary epilepsy.

In many individuals epilepsy may develop without any identifiable cause and then it is called
idiopathic epilepsy or primary epilepsy.

Cryptogenic epilepsy is a condition when no evidence of damage to the brain can be found, but
other symptoms, such as learning difficulties, suggest that damage to the brain has occurred.

Symptoms of epilepsy
Seizures are the most common symptom of epilepsy. A seizure is a result of excessive nerve-cell
discharges in the brain. When there is excess discharge of tiny microscopic electric impulses in
the brain at a region, they travel fast all over the brain via neurons. During a seizure, the
electrical impulses are disrupted, which can cause the brain and body to behave abnormally.

The severity of the seizures can differ from person to person. While some may go into a “trance
like” stage for a few seconds or minutes, others may lose consciousness. Yet others may have
convulsions or uncontrollable shaking of the body.
Types of epilepsy
Seizures are divided into two main types - generalized and partial. Generalized seizures occur if
the abnormal electrical activity affects all or most of the brain. This affects most of the body. A
tonic-clonic seizure is the most common type of generalized seizure. The whole body stiffens
and the person loses consciousness and falls. This is followed by a violent uncontrollable
shaking. Absence seizure is another type of generalized seizure. The person may lose
consciousness or awareness. This is common in children. Other types include a myoclonic
seizure, a tonic seizure and an atonic seizure.

Partial seizures are also called focal seizures. Here only one part of the brain is affected. There
may be localized (focal) symptoms. These may be simple partial seizures or complex partial
seizures.

Sometimes a partial seizure develops into a generalized seizure. This is called a secondary
generalized seizure.

Diagnosis of epilepsy
Epilepsy is most often diagnosed after more than one seizure or fit. Description of the seizure
and its video recording often helps to diagnose the type of epilepsy. Scans of the brain using CT
scans and MRI are used to detect visible brain damage. EEG or Electro Encephalogram is used to
detect the electrical activities of the brain.

Epilepsy treatment
Epilepsy generally has no cure. There are however several medications that can be used to
control seizures. These are known as anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). In around 70% of cases,
seizures are successfully controlled by AEDs. The right dose and combination or type of drug
may require some trials and adjustments. In some cases, surgery may be used to remove the
area of the brain affected or to install an electrical device that can help control seizures.
Sources

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Epilepsy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001714/

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Epilepsy-A-General-Introduction.htm

http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/639.pdf