Epilepsy, aneurological disease, is also commonly known as epilepsy. In this disease, which occurs with epileptic seizures, seizures occur. An epilepsy patient has various symptoms during a seizure. For example; falling to the ground, trembling and contraction of the whole body and loss of consciousness can be seen. This condition, which is difficult to understand from the outside, is caused by temporary abnormal activity in nerve cells in the brain.
Epilepsy is a very common disease. So much so that the incidence of the disease is stated as 0.5 percent to 1 percent in the general population. It is popularly known as epilepsy. The disease manifests itself with seizures. We can call what causes these seizures a kind of 'electrical leakage'.
Abnormal movements occur in the electrical current balanced in the nerve cells in the brain. This leads to loss of consciousness and inability to control the body. We can list its main features as follows;
- Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disease.
- There is no difference in the incidence of epilepsy between men and women and it affects people of all ages.
- Instead of epilepsy, names such as seizure and epilepsy are also used.
- Epilepsy is characterized by unpredictable seizures and can cause other health problems.
- Epilepsy is a spectrum disease with a wide range of seizure types and treatment responses that vary from person to person.
- Misunderstandings about epilepsy cause difficulties that are often worse than the seizures themselves.
What are the Types of Epilepsy?
Epilepsy syndromes are characterized by a number of features. These characteristics can include symptoms, which are problems that the person will notice. Also, signs that the doctor can find during an examination or through laboratory tests help to identify the type of epilepsy. Types of epilepsy are defined by the following characteristics
- Seizure type or types
- Age at onset of seizures
- Causes of seizures
- Whether seizures are hereditary
- The parts of the brain that are involved
- Factors that trigger seizures
- How severe and frequency of seizures
- Seizure pattern according to time of day
- Specific patterns seen on the EEG (electroencephalogram) during and between seizures
- Brain imaging findings, for example, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or CT (Computed Tomography) scan
- Genetic information
- Other disorders in addition to seizures
- The possibility of improvement or deterioration.
The types of epilepsy defined according to these characteristics are as follows;
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy: It is one of the types of childhood epilepsy. It occurs with symptoms such as drooling from the mouth, waking up from sleep and not being able to speak, and tilting the lip to one side. Generally, the disease is overcome in adolescence.
Benign Occipital Lobe Epilepsy: This type of epilepsy, which is among the childhood epilepsies, is characterized by symptoms such as visual disturbance and staying focused for a long time.
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Loss of consciousness and bizarre behaviors are the most prominent features of this epilepsy, which is one of the types of epilepsy seen in adults.
Childhood Absence Epilepsy: The most prominent feature of this type of epilepsy, which is frequently seen in primary school age, is absent-mindedness that can last from 5 seconds to 1 minute.
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: It is a type of epilepsy seen in adolescence. Symptoms such as sudden startles in the morning and dropping what is in the hand are prominent.
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: It is so named because it occurs in the frontal lobe region of the brain. Seizures occur suddenly.
Benign Familial Epilepsy of Infancy: This is a type of epilepsy seen in newborn babies, usually due to genetic causes.
Photosensitive Photoconvulsive Epilepsy: It is a rare type of epilepsy. In this epilepsy, there is hypersensitivity to light.
Infantile Spasm: It is seen in infancy before 1 year of age. The most prominent feature is the contraction of the body forward and backward.
What are the Causes of Epilepsy?
Epilepsy can have many different causes. In some cases, the cause of the disease may not be fully determined. In general, the causes of epilepsy are as follows;
- Hippocampal sclerosis
- Central nervous system infections
- Brain tumors
- Immune-mediated inflammations (Autoimmune Diseases)
- Developmental disorders of the brain vessels
- Developmental disorders of the brain vessels
- Genetic predisposition and inherited diseases.
Some epilepsies are caused by a disruption in a certain area of the brain, resulting in electrical activity emanating from this area. Examples include epilepsy caused by brain tumors and trauma. In some types of epilepsy, there is no damage to a single region. The epileptic seizure starts suddenly in the whole brain. Epilepsies that start in childhood are usually of this type. The types of epilepsy also differ from person to person. This also affects the causes and symptoms of epilepsy. Because not every epilepsy occurs with the same symptoms in every person.
What are the Symptoms of Epilepsy?
Since epilepsy affects the brain system, it can disrupt many functions managed by the brain. Seizure symptoms can appear in different ways. Symptoms of epilepsy include;
- Temporary confusion and inconsistencies in behavior
- Speech disorders
- Short-term loss of consciousness
- Experiencing psychological problems
- Involuntary tremors
- Uncontrollable arm and leg movements
- Sudden fall
The most common symptom during an epileptic seizure is loss of consciousness. In an epileptic seizure, loss of consciousness is accompanied by slipping in the mouth, head rotation, automatic movements in the arms and hands. In more serious seizures, which we call major seizures, falling to the ground and severe contractions in the body are observed. In such cases, biting the tongue or lip and urinary incontinence may also accompany. In some seizures seen in childhood, only eye darting can be seen without convulsions.
The most common symptom is loss of consciousness, falling and convulsions in the body. Seizures may occur during daytime or nighttime sleep. In general, it is not clear when it is a sign of epilepsy.
It is not known when they will come, but some patients can feel the seizures coming. In some patients, epileptic seizures may also occur in the form of diving without falling or convulsions. Epilepsy can manifest itself with very different symptoms. These symptoms vary from person to person. The thing to do in this case is to carry out the treatment with a specialist.
How is Epilepsy Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose epilepsy, it is necessary to learn how the patient experiences the attacks. Therefore, what happens during the attacks should be determined in detail.
However, if there is a suspicion of seizure, electrical waves are recorded with Electroencephalography (EEG). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) of the brain are other diagnostic tests.
To understand the type of epilepsy, it is necessary to understand how and how often seizures occur. Today, cell phones can help with this. Videotaping the moment of the seizure can allow the doctor to see what the seizure is like.
How is epilepsy treated?
Epilepsy is a disease that can be controlled with the right treatment methods. Today, there are very advanced treatment methods. The question of how to treat epilepsy can be answered differently depending on the epilepsy seizures experienced by the patient. However, in general, epilepsy treatment methods can be listed as follows;
- Treatment with medication
- Surgical treatment
- Diet therapy
- Applications of neurostimulation devices
- Complementary health approaches
- Clinical trials are in the form of
Different drug treatment is applied according to different seizure types. Single drug maximum dose approach is the approach based on drug treatment. Ketonogenic diet with high fat, low protein and low carbohydrate is a type of diet that is effective in the recovery of patients.
The most important step in the treatment of epilepsy is the diagnosis of epilepsy. After the diagnosis is made, it is determined which types of epilepsy epilepsy is included in. Once the types of epilepsy are identified, the appropriate treatment option is determined and applied according to the types of epilepsy. One of the most important forms of treatment in the treatment of epilepsy type within epilepsy types is ketogenic diet. Apart from this, appropriate dose and appropriate medication should be used in epilepsy types. The other treatment option is epilepsy surgery, which can be performed according to the types of epilepsy and the appropriate patient.
What should be done during an epilepsy seizure?
In daily life, patients with epilepsy can have seizures anywhere and anytime. It is very important to have information about what to do during an epilepsy seizure. Here are the things you should do when you see someone having a seizure;
- First of all, you need to be calm. Then the first thing is to bring the patient to a position where he will not harm himself.
- Forced involuntary movements of the patient should not be tried to stop.
- The patient should not try to close his/her jaw or stick out his/her tongue.
- If the patient is wearing tight or uncomfortable clothes, they should be removed or loosened.
- The patient should not drink water. Because this may cause the patient to suffocate.
- The crowd should not be created close enough to constrict the patient.
- The patient should know that this is temporary and should be observed by leaving the patient alone.
What Should Epilepsy Patients Pay Attention to?
It is very important for epilepsy patients to be aware of their condition. The most important step in fighting this disease is to recognize the disease and seizures. We can answer the question of what patients with epilepsy should pay attention to as follows;
- Take the medications given for your treatment regularly at the exact time.
- Stay away from hard floors in case you fall.
- Carry a card indicating that you have epilepsy.
- Do not lock the door while bathing.
- Avoid excessive light.
- Do not lose sleep. Do not get too tired.
- Take precautions to avoid getting a head blow in sudden falls.
- Do not drive if your seizures persist and always ask your doctor if it is OK before driving.
Although complete cure of epilepsy is not possible in all patients, seizures can be controlled with treatment in the majority of patients. However, the patient should be under constant medical supervision and the course of the disease should be carefully monitored.
During an epileptic seizure, the first intervention of people around the patient is very important. Doing things that may harm the person should be avoided.
Epilepsy Seizure
An epileptic seizure is caused by abnormal electrical activity that starts simultaneously in one or all parts of the brain. After this activity, brain functions are partially or completely disrupted for a while. Seizures usually last a few minutes, but if they last longer than 5 minutes, an ambulance should be called and the patient should go to the hospital immediately. Even if patients wake up after a seizure, it may take a long time for them to fully recover.
- They should sleep regularly
- Avoid alcoholic beverages
- Do not watch television for long periods of time or in close proximity
- When they enter the sea, sea water should not exceed knee height
- Avoid frequent consumption of caffeinated beverages such as tea, cola and coffee
- Not to use motor vehicles until the epileptic seizure is over
- Regular use of medicines
- They should stay away from stress.
For information onepilepsy surgery: https: //npistanbul.com/epilepsi-cerrahisi-nedir