Epilepsy – Symptoms , Causes and Treatment

 occur; can be followed by generalised seizure
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorderHow Is Epilepsy Treated?
that is characterized by recurrent unprovokedDrug Therapy
seizures.[1][2] These seizures are transient signs andMany drugs are available to treat epilepsy, several of
or symptoms due to abnormal, excessive orwhich have only recently been released.
synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.[3] AboutOlder, classic medications used to treat epilepsy
50 million people worldwide have epilepsy at any oneinclude:
time.[4] Epilepsy is usually controlled, but not cured,Dilantin or Phenytek
with medication, although surgery may be consideredPhenobarbital
in difficult cases. Not all epilepsy syndromes areTegretol or Carbatrol
lifelong – some forms are confined to particularVagus nerve stimulation -- This procedure involves
stages of childhood.minor surgery and is a relatively new treatment that
What Causes Epilepsy?helps prevent or lessen the severity of seizures. An
This is a tricky question with no clear-cut answer.electrical stimulator is placed beneath the skin of the
Often doctors can't pinpoint exactly what causesupper chest. The stimulator, which emits electrical
epilepsy in a particular individual. But scientists doimpulses, is connected to an electrode that is
know that these are some of the things that canattached to a nerve in the neck through a small
make a person more likely to develop epilepsy:incision. A patient with a vagus nerve stimulator
A brain injury, such as from a car crash or bikecontinues to take medication but sometimes can
accidentreduce the amount or number of medications.
An infection or illness that affected the developingSurgery
brain of a fetus during pregnancySurgery is an option for a small number of patients
Epilepsy can arise as a result of many differentwhose epilepsy cannot be controlled with medication.
conditions that affect the brain. Examples of theseA good candidate for surgery has seizures that
conditions include stroke (resulting from a blockage ofalways begin in the same cerebral location, which can
the blood supply to parts of the brain), complicationsbe removed (resected) without creating deficits.
during childbirth, infections (such as meningitis,Neurosurgeons generally avoid performing surgery in
encephalitis, cysticercosis, or brain abscess), headareas of the brain responsible for speech, hearing,
trauma, and certain genetic disorders.and other important functions.
Epilepsy SymptomsWhat is the prognosis?
Eyes are generally open.Most people with epilepsy lead outwardly normal lives.
The person may not appear to be breathing. TheWhile epilepsy cannot currently be cured, for some
person is often breathing deeply after an episode.people it does eventually go away. Most seizures do
The return to consciousness is gradual and shouldnot cause brain damage. It is not uncommon for
occur within a few moments.people with epilepsy, especially children, to develop
Simple partial - person fully aware; abnormal twitchingbehavioral and emotional problems, sometimes the
movement of part of the body, for example, head,consequence of embarrassment and frustration or
eyes, hand or arm, or tingling sensation; person maybullying, teasing, or avoidance in school and other
sense odd smells, sounds or tastessocial setting. For many people with epilepsy, the risk
Complex partial - person experiences odd tastes orof seizures restricts their independence (some states
smells or déjà-vu; dream-like state follows; duringrefuse drivers licenses to people with epilepsy) and
an attack, lip smacking, grimacing or fidgeting mayrecreational activities.