Brain cells send messages to the body through electrical signals. A seizure happens when there are abnormal electrical signals in the brain. During a seizure, you may:
When two or more seizures occur it is considered a seizure disorder. This condition is also known as epilepsy.
Seizure disorders may be classified by the part of the brain they affect and the kinds of symptoms they cause. The main categories are:
Seizures are caused by abnormal brain function. Seizure disorders can start at any age.
For most people it is not known what causes the malfunction. Some known causes include:
In newborns:
In infants and children:
In children and adults:
In elderly:
The following factors increase your chance of developing some seizure disorders:
If you already have a seizure disorder, the following factors can increase your chance of having a seizure:
There are many kinds of seizure disorders with a variety of symptoms such as:
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You may need to see a neurologist. These doctors specialize in the nervous system and brain.
Tests may include the following:
The goals of treatment are to:
There are a wide variety of medications that may be used. Some of these include:
These drugs may be given alone or in combination.
If medicine does not work or the side effects are too severe, surgery may be advised. Surgery involves the removal of the seizure focus. This is the area of the brain that has been identified as starting the seizure. Surgery is only an option for individuals who have very localized areas of the brain involved.
A device is implanted in the chest. It will provide intermittent electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve. It is not clear how this works. Somehow it prevents or decreases the frequency of seizures. You may still require medications. The dosage may be less.
This is a very strict diet. It is high in fat and low in carbohydrates and proteins. This diet keeps the body’s chemical balance in ketosis. Ketosis decreases the frequency of seizures. The reason is unknown. Following a ketogenic diet is most successful in children. It is less successful in adults.
If you have a seizure disorder, you can take the following steps to try to decrease the chance of a seizure:
There are no known ways to prevent every type of seizure disorder. You can take steps to prevent brain injuries which could lead to seizures:
If you have a very severe seizure disorder, some changes may be needed to prevent serious injuries. For example:
RESOURCES:
Epilepsy Foundation
http://www.efa.org/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Center for Epilepsy and Seizure Education
http://epilepsy.cc/
Epilepsy Ontario
http://www.epilepsyontario.org/
References:
Epilepsy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Accessed January 15, 2008.
Ferri FF, ed. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2004.
Goetz CG, ed. Textbook of clinical Neurology . 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2006.
Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2004.
Kasper D, Braunwald E, Fauci A, Hauser S, Longo D, Jameson JL. Harrison's principles of internal medicine . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005.
*12/20/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : 2007 safety alerts for drugs, biologics, medical devices, and dietary supplements: Carbamazepine (marketed as Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol and generics). Medwatch. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#carbamazepine .
*5/14/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Neal EG, Chaffe H, Schwartz RH, et al. The ketogenic diet for the treatment of childhood epilepsy: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2008 May 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Last reviewed February 2009 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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