EpilepsyWhat Is It?
Epilepsy is a condition of the nervous system that causes repeated, sudden, brief changes in the normal electrical activity of the brain. During one of these epileptic episodes, commonly called a seizure or convulsion, brain cells fire uncontrollably at up to four times their normal rate, temporarily affecting the way a person behaves, moves, thinks or feels.
There are two main types of seizures:
- A primary generalized seizure involves the entire brain.
- A partial seizure begins in one brain area, called a focus, and affects only part of the brain.
Many conditions can affect the brain and trigger epilepsy, including:
However, in about 70% of people with epilepsy, the specific cause is unknown.
Approximately 2.7 million Americans have active epilepsy. Each year, about 200,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy in the United States, and up to 25% of these are children under the age of 15. Epilepsy is most common under the age of 2 and over the age of 65.
Symptoms
The symptoms of epilepsy vary depending on how much of the brain is affected and where the affected area is located.
Primary generalized seizures (involve all areas of the brain):
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (previously called grand mal) � In this type of seizure, the person loses consciousness, falls to the ground and temporarily stops breathing. All body muscles then contract (tense up) at once for a short period. This is soon followed by a series of shorter rhythmic contractions. Some people also lose bowel or bladder control (become incontinent). The seizure episode may last for a few minutes and is followed by a period of sleepiness (lethargy) and confusion, and possibly muscle soreness and a headache.
- Absence seizure (also called petit mal seizure) � In this type of seizure, loss of consciousness is so brief that the person usually doesn't change position. For a few seconds, the person may have a blank stare, blink rapidly, make chewing movements with the mouth, or briefly move an arm or leg rhythmically. This type of seizure usually begins in childhood or early adolescence.
Partial (focal) seizures (begin in a single area of the brain):
- Simple partial seizure � In this type of seizure, the person remains awake and aware. Symptoms vary depending on the brain area involved and can include jerking movements in one part of the body; an experience of abnormal smells, sounds or changes in vision; nausea; or emotional symptoms, such as unexplained fear or rage.
- Complex partial seizure � In this type of seizure, the person may seem to be aware, but is briefly unresponsive. There may be a blank stare, chewing or lip smacking, repetitive movements of the hand, or unusual behaviors. After the seizure, the person has no memory of the episode.
A partial seizure can turn into a generalized seizure if the electrical activity spreads to the rest of the brain.
Status epilepticus � This condition occurs when a person has a generalized seizure that lasts 20 to 30 minutes or more, or a series of seizures without fully regaining consciousness. This is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Diagnosis
You may not have any seizure symptoms when you visit your doctor's office. For this reason, it is important to ask anyone who witnessed your seizure to describe the event, and to write it down for your doctor. This description will help your doctor determine the type of seizure you had and decide on appropriate treatment.
Having a seizure does not mean that a person has epilepsy. For example, it's common for children to have seizures associated with fever, and most children who have them do not go on to develop epilepsy. Your doctor will diagnose epilepsy based on your history, a thorough physical and neurological examination, and the results of an electroencephalogram (EEG). In many cases, your doctor will order a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. Other types of brain scans also may be needed, such as positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). To check whether your seizures are related to medical causes outside the brain, your doctor may order basic lab tests including blood tests, urinalysis and an electrocardiogram (EKG).
Expected Duration
Epilepsy can be a lifelong condition, but many people with a history of multiple seizures eventually will stop having seizures. People who are younger when seizures start and people who have a normal neurological examination are more likely to become seizure-free at some point. For most people with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with medication.
Prevention
Since the cause of most cases of epilepsy remains unknown, there is no way to prevent seizures. To help prevent epilepsy caused by head injury, you can:
- Wear seat belts while driving
- Equip your car with air bags
- Wear an approved helmet while skating, riding a motorcycle or bicycling
- Use protective headgear for sports
For people with an active seizure disorder, it is also important to take precautions to minimize the risk of injury if a seizure should occur. For this reason, it is generally recommended that people with epilepsy do not operate a motor vehicle or other dangerous machinery for at least six months after the most recent seizure.
People with epilepsy may find it helpful to wear a medical identification bracelet or other form of identification that describes their condition. This will provide important information about their epilepsy to emergency personnel in case a seizure episode occurs when they are away from home.
Treatment
In most cases, your doctor will begin treatment with one of the many available antiepileptic medications. These medications include carbamazepine (Tegretol), clonazepam (Klonopin), ethosuximide (Zarontin), felbamate (Felbatol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), phenobarbital (Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), primidone (Mysoline), topiramate (Topimax) and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote). The type of medication used depends on the type of seizure being treated.
When medication fails to control a person's seizures, surgery may be considered. The decision to perform surgery depends on many factors, including the frequency and severity of seizures, the patient's risk of brain damage or bodily injury from frequent seizures, the effect on quality of life, the person's overall health, and the likelihood that surgery will control seizure episodes.
Status epilepticus, a life-threatening medical emergency, is treated with medications given intravenously (into a vein) or rectally, together with protective measures to keep the person's airway open and to prevent injury to the person's head and tongue.
When To Call a Professional
Call your doctor whenever you or anyone in your family experiences any of the seizure symptoms described above. Call for emergency help immediately if you suspect that someone with epilepsy has developed status epilepticus.
Prognosis
About 70% to 80% of people with epilepsy can control their seizures with medication. The other 20% to 30% have "medically intractable epilepsy" that cannot be controlled with antiepileptic drugs. In many cases, medically intractable epilepsy can be treated with surgery.
Additional Info
American Epilepsy Society
342 North Main St.
West Hartford, CT 06117-2507
Phone: 860-586-7505
Fax: 860-586-7550
http://www.aesnet.org/
Epilepsy Foundation
4351 Garden City Drive
Landover, MD 20785-7223
Toll-Free: 1-800-332-1000
http://www.efa.org/
