Epilepsy- A Neurological Condition

Epilepsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. Seizures can be either triggered or unprovoked, and they can also be chronic. A single seizure associated with certain brain changes will increase the likelihood of future seizures.

Who Can Get Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects people of all ages. Epilepsy is caused by the brain's excessive or irregular behavior. As an epileptic gets older, this activity, known as hypersynchronus neuronal activity, can trigger further seizures. Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide. Dr. Mohana Rao who is working with one of the best Guntur based neurology hospital says that the elderly and children are more likely to have new-onset epilepsy, and those recovering from brain surgery are most likely to have an epileptic seizure. Epilepsy is a syndromic condition since it is not a particular disorder. This suggests that various symptoms can arise as a result of the brain's operation. Seizures are the most common symptom, but epilepsy does not cause all seizures.

Epileptic Seizures: What Causes Them?

The fact that epileptic seizures occur spontaneously is used to diagnose them. Certain factors, however, can cause epilepsy in some people. Reflex epilepsy is the term used for this form of epilepsy. For someone with reflex epilepsy, things like heat stress, sleep, sleep loss, and emotional stress may all be causes. When a seizure is linked to the menstrual cycle, it is known as catamenial epilepsy.

Epilepsy is triggered differently in different age groups. Trauma, metabolic disorders, and other conditions may cause epilepsy in infants. CNS lesions may affect adolescents and adults, resulting in epileptic fits. Epilepsy can also be caused by brain tumors and injuries in this age group. Cerebrovascular disorder may cause epilepsy in older adults and the elderly. However, this isn't the only explanation. Degenerative disorders, head injuries, and cancers of the central nervous system are among the other causes.

Epilepsy can also be caused by genetic mutations. The most common causes of generalized epilepsy and infantile seizure syndromes are these mutated genes. In these cases, sodium channels can remain open for an extended period of time, causing hyperexcitability in brain neurons.

Is Epilepsy Curable?

If you or a loved one suffers from epilepsy, you might be wondering if it is possible to be cured. The response is no, but in some situations it can be managed effectively with medication. Even with medication, approximately 30% of patients have difficulty managing their seizures, and in these cases, doctors can recommend surgery.

What Are The Different Types Of Seizures?

You may have partial or focal onset seizures or distributed generalized seizures if you have epilepsy. Simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures are also possible. These seizures have the potential to spread across the brain. This is known as secondary generalization, and it can be classified into different groups based on which body parts are involved.

Some types of these seizures include:

• Absence (petit mal)
• Myoclonic
• Clonic
• Tonic
• Tonic-clonic (grand mal)
• Atonic

Some children may show behaviors that are not related to epilepsy but may be mistaken for seizures. These are some of them:

• Shivers
• Rocking or nodding
• Conversion disorder

What Are Some Of The Most Common Seizure Disorders?

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, also known as ADNFLE, affects people who have seizures while sleeping. If an infant's epileptic seizures aren't responding to therapy, Dravet's syndrome may be the cause. A fever normally precedes the first seizure. Ohtahara syndrome is a rare condition that manifests itself in the first few weeks of life. Although the EEG will reveal the symptoms of this condition, the prognosis is low. Around half of the children with this condition die within the first year, and the remainder may be mentally retarded or have cerebral palsy.

Seizures: How Are They Handled?

Seizures can be managed with medication. In certain cases, operations may cure some forms of epilepsy, but the procedure is always dangerous. In some cases, a special diet can reduce the number or frequency of seizures, and in others, vagus nerve stimulation can help.

When anyone has a seizure, they should be moved away from sharp objects and have something soft put under their heads. To avoid fluids from entering the airway, the patient should be turned onto his side whenever possible. Choking and death will occur if this is not done. If this is the patient's first seizure, the seizure lasts more than five minutes, or the seizure occurs more than once without the patient waking up, it is important to seek medical attention.

Seizures are treated with more than 20 drugs that have been approved by the FDA. Here are some of them:

• Clorazepate
• Clonazepam
• Tiagabine
• Valproic acid
• Felbamate
• Pregabalin

Some drugs are still in clinical trials and have not yet been approved for use. Diazepam and lorazepam are two medications that can stop a seizure. Paraldehyde, midazolam, or pentobarbital can be used to treat refractory status epilepticus.

These anticonvulsants are usually healthy, but according to one study, 88 percent of patients experienced at least one side effect. The majority of these are minor and occur less often when patients take the bare minimum of medication. The medication's purpose is to stabilize and monitor seizures while causing the lowest possible side effects.