Epilepsy
Patients with epilepsy are now treated with pharmacotherapy, occasionally with
neurosurgical techniques, as well as with psychological and social support. Before
regular treatment with antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) begins, more than one seizure should
have occurred, and other causes for the convulsions(e.g. hypoglycemia) have been
excluded(or treated). The aim is to try to prevent further seizures, either completely or
to reduce their frequency and severity as much as possible with the least possible side
effects.
Examinations for epilepsy include: physical examinations(observation,
measurements, neurological examination, etc.), laboratory investigations, skull X-ray,
electroencephalography(EEG),CT scan, MRI, and psychological evaluation.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic condition marked by repeated seizures. Epilepsy
occurs in both sexes at all ages, especially in childhood, adolescence and increasingly
in aging populations. The word “epilepsy” is derived from Latin and Greek words for
“seizure”. Seizures are viewed as electromagnetic discharges in the brain in predisposed
individuals, attributable in part to putative genetic factors, underlying neurological
disorders, and largely unknown neurochemical mechanisms.
Epilepsy may develop after a particular identifiable event (e.g. asphyxia, head
injury, meningitis), in which case it is called symptomatic epilepsy (secondary
epilepsy);or it may develop without any identifiable cause, and then it is called
idiopathic epilepsy (primary epilepsy). Seizures are results of excessive electrical
discharges in a group of brain cells. Seizures can vary from brief and mild episodes
known as absence (petit mal) seizures to major tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures with
loss of consciousness, convulsion(intervals of violent involuntary muscle contractions),
and sensory disturbances(Fig.7-8).A seizure may be due to hypoglycemia,
hypocalcemia, trauma, infections, or something else.
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