| > | | | | costs and inconvenience however make this method |
| A chronic neurological condition, Epilepsy is | | | | not as wide spread as one might think. |
| characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures. | | | | Although all of the symptoms of epilepsy are not |
| Epilepsy is most commonly controlled through the use | | | | known, many predisposing factors have been |
| of various medications, but can sometimes patients | | | | identified. These factors include brain damage that |
| will even undergo surgical procedures to try and | | | | result from malformations during: - brain development |
| further control the condition. | | | | - brain tumor - high fever - head trauma - penetrating |
| As mentioned above the main characteristic of | | | | wounds of the brain - intoxication - acute or inborn |
| epilepsy is the presence of recurrent and unprovoked | | | | disturbances of metabolism - neurosurgical operations |
| seizures, this is the main diagnosis requirement. A | | | | - bacterial or viral encephalitis - strokeIt is also known |
| seizure is a temporary alteration in brain functions | | | | that hereditary or genetic factors also play a large |
| that expresses itself into a changed mental state, | | | | role in the prevalence of seizures. Typically, Epilepsy is |
| tonic or clonic movement among other symptoms. | | | | treated with medication that is prescribed by a |
| Seizures are due to temporary abnormal electrical | | | | physician. Generally primary caregivers, neurologists, |
| activity of a group of brain cells. Typically tests such | | | | and neurosurgeons care for people with epilepsy. In |
| as: EEG, brain MRI, SPECT, PET, and | | | | many cases a special diet or the implantation of a |
| magnetoencephalography to help constrict the affect | | | | stimulator of the vagus nerve can help to reduce the |
| area of the brain as well as classify the epileptic | | | | likelyhood of concurrent seizures. Good emergency |
| syndrome. All of these different tests however, are | | | | response is extremely important to help the individual |
| not actually usefull in the orginal diagnosis. The | | | | from self-injuring him/herself; injuries such as falling |
| 'Platinum' standard for diagnosis is through the | | | | off edges, or injury from sharp objects are common. |
| long-term video-EEG monitoring for epilepsy. High | | | | |