newsprompt.coEPILEPSY SYMPTOMS
Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder or a neurological disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain becomes disrupted, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of consciousness. Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. About 1 in 26 people in the United States will develop a seizure disorder.
Nearly 10 percent of individuals may have a single unprovoked seizure. However, a single seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis. Even mild seizures may require treatment because they can be dangerous during activities such as driving or swimming. Treatments or sometimes an operation can control seizures for about 80 percent of people with epilepsy. Some children with epilepsy may also outgrow their condition with age.
Symptoms
Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in brain cells, seizures can affect any process your brain coordinates. Seizure signs and symptoms may include –
1. Temporary confusion
2. A staring spell
3. Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
4. Loss of consciousness or awareness
6. Psychic symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode. Health care providers generally classify seizures as either focal or generalized, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins.
FOCAL SEIZURES
When seizures appear to result from abnormal activity in just one area of your brain, they’re called focal or partial seizures. These seizures fall into two categories.
1. Focal seizures without loss of consciousness
These seizures don’t cause a loss of consciousness. They may alter emotions or change the way things look, smell, feel, taste or sound. They may also result in involuntary jerking of a body part, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and flashing lights.
2. Focal dyscognitive seizures
These seizures involve a change or loss of consciousness or awareness. During a complex partial seizure, you may stare into space and not respond normally to your environment or perform repetitive movements, such as hand rubbing, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles. Symptoms of focal seizures may be confused with other neurological disorders, such as migraine, narcolepsy or mental illness. A thorough examination and testing are needed to distinguish epilepsy from other disorders.
Generalized Seizures
Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Six types of generalized seizures exist.
1. Absence seizures – Absence seizures, previously known as petit mal seizures, often occur in children and are characterized by staring into space or subtle body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking. These seizures may occur in clusters and cause a brief loss of awareness.
2. Tonic seizures – Tonic seizures cause stiffening of your muscles. These seizures usually affect muscles in your back, arms and legs and may cause you to fall to the ground.
3. Atonic seizures – Atonic seizures, also known as drop seizures, cause a loss of muscle control, which may cause you to suddenly collapse or fall down.
4. Clonic seizures Clonic seizures are associated with repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements. These seizures usually affect the neck, face and arms.
5. Myoclonic seizures – Myoclonic seizures usually appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches of your arms and legs.
6. Tonic-clonic seizures – Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as grand mal seizures, are the most dramatic type of epileptic seizure and can cause an abrupt loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and sometimes loss of bladder control or biting your tongue.
Causes
Epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half of those with the condition. In the other, the condition may be traced to various factors.
1. Genetic influence – Some types of epilepsy, which are categorized by the type of seizure you experience or the part of the brain that is affected, run in families. In these cases, it’s likely that there’s a genetic influence. Researchers have linked some types of epilepsy to specific genes, though it’s estimated that up to 500 genes could be tied to the condition. For most people, genes are only part of the cause of epilepsy. Certain genes may make a person more sensitive to environmental conditions that trigger seizures.
2. Head trauma – Head trauma as a result of a car accident or other traumatic injury can cause epilepsy.
3. Brain conditions – Brain conditions that cause damage to the brain, such as brain tumors or strokes, can cause epilepsy. Stroke is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults older than age 35.
4. Infectious diseases – Infectious diseases, such as meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis, can cause epilepsy.
5. Prenatal injury – Before birth, babies are sensitive to brain damage that could be caused by several factors, such as an infection in the mother, poor nutrition or oxygen deficiencies. This brain damage can result in epilepsy or cerebral palsy.
6. Developmental disorders – Epilepsy can sometimes be associated with developmental disorders, such as autism and neurofibromatosis.
Risk Factors
Certain factors may increase your risk of epilepsy –
1. Age – The onset of epilepsy is most common during early childhood and after age 60, but the condition can occur at any age.
2. Family history – If you have a family history of epilepsy, you may be at an increased risk of developing a seizure disorder.
3. Head injuries – Head injuries are responsible for some cases of epilepsy. You can reduce your risk by wearing a seat belt while riding in a car and by wearing a helmet while bicycling, skiing, riding a motorcycle or engaging in other activities with a high risk of head injury.
4. Stroke and other vascular diseases – Stroke and other blood vessel diseases can lead to brain damage that may trigger epilepsy. You can take a number of steps to reduce your risk of these diseases, including limiting your intake of abusive/addictive substances, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
5. Dementia – Dementia can increase the risk of epilepsy in older adults.
6. Brain infections – Infections such as meningitis, which causes inflammation in your brain or spinal cord, can increase your risk.
7. Seizures in childhood – High fevers in childhood can sometimes be associated with seizures. Children who have seizures due to high fevers generally won’t develop epilepsy, although the risk is higher if they have a long seizure, other nervous system conditions or a family history of epilepsy.
Diagnosis
To diagnose your condition, your Health care provider will review your symptoms and health history. Your Health care provider may order several tests to diagnose epilepsy and determine the cause of seizures.
1. Neurological examination – Your Health care providers may test your behavior, motor abilities, mental function and other areas to diagnose your condition and determine the type of epilepsy you may have.
2. Blood tests – Your Health care provider may take a blood sample to check for signs of infections, genetic conditions or other conditions that may be associated with seizures.
3. Electroencephalogram- Your Health care provider may also suggest tests to detect brain abnormalities, such as this is the most common test used to diagnose epilepsy. In this test, Health care providers attach electrodes to your scalp with a paste-like substance. The electrodes record the electrical activity of your brain. If you have epilepsy, it’s common to have changes in your normal pattern of brain waves, even when you’re not having a seizure. Your Health care provider may monitor you on video while conducting an EEG while you’re awake or asleep, to record any seizures you may experience. Recording the seizures may help the Health care provider determine what kind of seizures you’re having or rule out other conditions.
4. Computerized tomography scan – A CT scan uses X-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of your brain. CT scans can reveal abnormalities in your brain that might be causing your seizures, such as tumors, bleeding and cysts.
5. Magnetic resonance imaging – An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a detailed view of your brain. Your Health care provider may be able to detect lesions or abnormalities in your brain that could be causing your seizures.
6. Functional MRI – A functional MRI measures the changes in blood flow that occur when specific parts of your brain are working. Health care providers may use an fMRI to identify the exact locations of critical functions, such as speech and movement, so that surgeons can avoid injuring those places while operating.
7. Positron emission tomography – PET scans use a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that’s injected into a vein to help visualize active areas of the brain and detect abnormalities.
8. Single-photon emission computerized tomography – This type of test is used primarily if you’ve had an MRI and EEG that didn’t pinpoint the location in your brain where the seizures are originating. A SPECT test uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that’s injected into a vein to create a detailed, 3-D map of the blood flow activity in your brain during seizures. Health care providers also may conduct a form of a SPECT test called subtraction. SPECT coregistered to magnetic resonance imaging (SISCOM), which may provide even more detailed results.
9. Neuropsychological tests. In these tests, Health care provider assess your thinking, memory and speech skills. The test results help them determine which areas of your brain are affected.
Treatments
Treatment can help most people with epilepsy have fewer seizures, or stop having seizures completely and include – 1. Teatments called anti-epileptics 2. An operation to remove a small part of the brain that’s causing the seizures 3. A procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures 4. A special diet that can help control seizures
Some people need treatment for life. But you might be able to stop if your seizures disappear over time. You may not need any treatment if you know your seizure triggers and are able to avoid them. Talk to your specialist about the treatments available and which might be best for you.
