Epilepsy

Epilepsy

Introduction

Epilepsy has been defined as a commonly witnessed neurological order that implies the phenomenon of experiencing seizures, which are derived from sudden and abnormal electronic activity in the brain. The classification system for epilepsy is multifaceted and includes several types of seizure disorders categorized by signs and symptoms. The most commonly used classification system was created by the International League against Epilepsy Commission on Classification and Terminology and consists of three tiers related to seizure type/localization, detection of brain lesions and etiology, and specific syndromes. Other factors are also taken into consideration such as age of onset, duration of epilepsy, chronicity, severity, anatomy, precipitating factors, electroencephalography (EEG), and behavioral characteristics.

Figure 1: Epilepsy

Overview of Epilepsy

While efforts have been made by organizations such as the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) to develop standardized definitions for seizure disorders, differences in definitions continue to exit, which often make comparisons across studies difficult.

As proposed by the ILAE and the IBE in 2005, epilepsy, recurrent unprovoked (spontaneous) seizures, is a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system and is characterized by brief disturbances in the typical electrical functions of the brain.

The intense electrical activity may occur in one part of the brain (partial seizures) or may affect nerve cells throughout the brain (generalized seizures). These physical changes in the brain are often called epileptic seizures; therefore, epilepsy is often interchangeably used with seizure disorders. Physicians use an electroencephalogram (EEG), a tool to measure brain activity, to diagnosis epilepsy.

Causes

Epilepsy usually is caused due to some event, condition or circumstance where the brain has been hit or bruised due to any accident, resulting in damages leading to abscesses, strokes, tumors, physical injury (generally relating to trauma) or any infection that may formulate in the brain such as meningitis. The most prominent cases that have come across in front of us have been related to either children or people belonging to the senior age bracket; however, it is known with medical facts and cultural settings that individuals can become patients of epilepsy at any age or any point of time in their life. Epilepsy can be "inherited" disease as a result of head injuries, diseases of the mother during pregnancy, due to the formation of brain tumors, vascular malformations of the brain, birth trauma, infections of the nervous system, poisoning, neurosurgical operations.

Symptoms

Epilepsy encompasses a wide range of syndromes, varying in severity and presentation. Epilepsy may occur from different regions of the brain and may or may not interfere with an individual's perception, movement, mood, and consciousness. Epilepsy is usually diagnosed when an individual has at least two unprovoked seizures, yet some neurologists may diagnosis children with epilepsy when one identifiable and unprovoked seizure occurs. However, epilepsy diagnosed after one seizure still appears to be controversial and requires differentiation from provoked seizures.

Figure 2: Types of Epileptic Seizures

Prognosis for Epilepsy

Epilepsy can be a chronic condition in some cases; however, the need for medication can be reduced or even eliminated over ...