Definitions

What is Epilepsy causes types Diagnosis and treatment

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological problem caused by abnormal, temporary and reversible electrical brain activity. This abnormal activity, which leads to a lack of coordination of neurological signs, causes what we call epileptic seizures, which can be of different types and can cause symptoms such as altered consciousness and tremors.

Is seizure epilepsy?

Although many people think that seizures and epilepsy are synonymous, this is not true . What we call a seizure is the crisis known as tonic-clonic, which is characterized by the appearance of tremors, excessive salivation and other symptoms. According to the LBE (Liga Brasileira de Epilepsia), “ to consider that a person has epilepsy they must have repeated epileptic seizures, therefore the person may have an epileptic seizure (convulsive or not) and not have the diagnosis of epilepsy” .

What causes epilepsy?

Epilepsy has different causes, which include genetic diseases, brain tumors, head trauma, lack of oxygen during childbirth, stroke , meningitis and herpetic encephalitis. It can affect people of all ages.

types of epilepsy

Epilepsy can be classified along two axes: topographic and etiological. In the topographical axis, generalized and focal epilepsies are included . The etiological axis includes idiopathic, symptomatic and cryptogenic epilepsies.

  • topographic axis

— Generalized epilepsy: epileptic seizures result from excessive electrical discharges in the brain that involve both cerebral hemispheres simultaneously and, in general, cause alteration of consciousness. Motor manifestations, when they appear, are always bilateral. The main examples of generalized epilepsies are absence seizures, myoclonic seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

— Focal epilepsy: epileptic seizures occur due to an electrical discharge that is limited to a specific area of ​​the brain, affecting one hemisphere, and its manifestation is directly linked to the place of onset and the speed of discharge. There may or may not be impairment of consciousness. They can be classified as simple or complex . In simple, there is no change in consciousness; in the complex, there is.

  • etiological axis

— Idiopathic epilepsies: are those that occur in the absence of underlying structural damage.

— Symptomatic epilepsy: occurs due to lesions such as mesial temporal sclerosis and primary brain tumors.

— Cryptogenic epilepsy: presumably symptomatic epilepsy, but with no confirmed lesion on imaging tests.

epileptic seizures

Epileptic seizures can manifest in different ways, with the most popular seizure being the one characterized by loss of consciousness, stiffening of the body and tremors. This crisis is known as tonic-clonic, also popularly called seizure.

There are also crises in which the person appears as if they had been disconnected, and this occurrence is known as an absence crisis . In some crises, the person remains awake, and preservation of consciousness is observed. In this case, it is a simple focal seizure . The different seizures are directly related to the area of ​​the brain that is affected at the time.

How to act in the face of an epileptic seizure?

Many people are desperate when witnessing an epileptic seizure, but the ideal is to remain calm and follow some tips. First accommodate the individual who is in crisis so that he does not hit his head on the floor and put him on his side to avoid suffocation by saliva or vomit. Remove nearby objects that could cause injury or even personal objects that could cause the person to get hurt, such as watches and glasses. It is also important to loosen the clothes. Wait for the crisis to pass and keep the person calm after this event. Many people, upon returning from crises, are confused.

Other important points when witnessing an epileptic seizure relate to what should not be done.

  • Never put objects in the mouth of the person in crisis. Due to the strength of the jaw, this attitude can cause harm to those who help and those who, theoretically, are being helped. It is important to make it clear that the patient’s tongue does not curl during the crisis, so these attitudes are unnecessary.
  • Do not hold a person’s limbs during a crisis.
  • Do not throw water on the victim.
  • Do not hit the victim in the face.
  • Do not offer drinks to a person during the crisis.
  • Do not medicate a person after an attack.
  • Do not offer anything for the victim to smell.

Diagnosis of epilepsy

To diagnose a case of epilepsy, the doctor must analyze the patient’s clinical history . It is important that another person accompany the individual to the doctor so that he can describe the seizures that the patient presents. Exams such as electroencephalogram and skull tomography can be important for determining the diagnosis of epilepsy.

treatment of epilepsy

The treatment of epilepsy includes drugs called antiepileptics, which are very effective in reducing seizures. According to the Brazilian League of Epilepsy (LBE), the regular use of one or two medications is able to adequately control seizures in 70% of cases. It is also recommended that the patient does not drink alcoholic beverages, adopt a healthy diet , avoid stressful situations and try to have a good night’s sleep. It is worth noting that patients with epilepsy who receive adequate treatment can lead a normal life.

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