Epilepsy Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

 

Convulsive or non-convulsive seizures that recur frequently are caused by epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder. One of the most widespread conditions affecting the central nervous system, epilepsy can result in momentary lapses in attention, unconsciousness, and even spasmodic twitching of the arms and legs. It must be emphasized again, though, that epilepsy is just a disorder and not a symptom of mental illness or intellectual disability. Last but not least, having a seizure rarely indicates that a person has epilepsy. To an Epilepsy specialist, a seizure must occur at least a few times and be unprovoked in order to be considered an epileptic seizure.

What Causes Epilepsy?

There is no known cause of epilepsy in about 50% of cases. The following may be the cause of the other half:

• A head injury caused by a fall or automobile accident.
• Genetic (inherited from your parents) (inherited from your parents). Specific genes have been linked to certain forms of epilepsy. Or, a person may be more susceptible to seizures due to certain genes.
• Abnormalities of the brain, such as brain tumors or blood vessel malformations.
• The most common cause of epilepsy in adults over 35 is stroke.
• Meningitis, HIV, viral encephalitis, and some parasites are examples of infections.
• Fetal injury before birth can be brought on by the mother’s infection, poor nutrition, or oxygen deprivation.
• Children’s developmental disorders like autism

What are the Symptoms of Epilepsy?

Although seizures can vary greatly, some of the more typical signs of epilepsy include:

• consciousness loss
• looking vacant
• strange patterns of behavior
• repetitive jerking or twitching
• speaking is challenging
• body trembling or stiffness

You may have a general seizure or a focal (partial) seizure, depending on which part of the brain is affected.

Diagnosis of  Epilepsy

Finding the type of seizure allows for the prediction of epilepsy. Numerous illnesses cause behavioral changes and can be mistaken for epilepsy. In order to make a diagnosis, other psychiatric conditions and disorders caused by changes in brain chemistry must be ruled out. The following are necessary for making an epilepsy diagnosis:

1. Clinical background

It is crucial to rule out any conditions that might mimic epilepsy symptoms before concluding that the patient has epilepsy. An Epilepsy Specialist conducts a thorough examination, reviewing the patient’s history, his or her family history, and the onset of symptoms in order to rule out other possible causes.

2. Laboratory and imaging tests

The following test can be used to assess general health status and investigate brain function.

1. Computed tomography (CT) scan (head)
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain
3. PET CT brain with contrast
4. Electroencephalogram (EEG)
5. Brain aspect
6. Comprehensive health checkup.

3. A neurological assessment

To accurately diagnose the condition, a thorough neuropsychologist’s test is designed to evaluate each person’s performance in terms of accuracy, memory, language, attention, thoughts, and mental status. The patient’s history is also very important.

These tests can aid in determining whether your psychological processes—including memory, attention, mood, language, emotions, and personality—are being impacted by seizures.

What Options are there for Treating Epilepsy?

Because some seizures are very minor, not all of them are treated. Some patients prefer not to experience the negative effects of drugs. If you and your doctor decide to treat your seizures, medication is typically where you start. Surgery or other treatments might be advised if the medications are unable to control seizures.

Medication

Medication, either a single anti-epileptic drug or a cocktail of drugs, is one option for treatment. Finding the best medication and dosage can be challenging. In most cases, you’ll start out with a low dosage and gradually increase it until seizures are well under control. Anti-seizure drugs come in more than 20 different varieties. The type that is prescribed depends on the patient’s age, the type of seizure, and other medical issues. Fatigue, wooziness, weight gain, loss of bone density, skin rash, loss of coordination, speech issues, and memory, and thinking issues are just a few of the side effects that medications can have. To assess the efficacy of your medications, you’ll need to schedule routine follow-up appointments with your doctor. With their first medication, more than half of seizure patients can become seizure-free.

Surgery

If medication fails to stop seizures, Epilepsy Surgery might be advised. Your brain’s seizure-causing region will be surgically removed. If your seizures come from a small, well-defined area of your brain, surgery may be an option because its removal won’t impair any essential mental processes. After a successful operation, medications may still be taken, but they may be fewer and in lower doses.