ABOUT THE DISEASE

Epilepsy is a chronic medical condition marked by repeated seizures. This happens due to altered brain function, caused by abnormal or excessive electrical discharges from brain cells. If a person has recurring seizures, this is called epilepsy.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms may vary from person to person depending upon the part of the brain that is affected and these may include:

• • Strange smell or sensation called an aura, or warning that tells a person they are about to have a seizure.
• • Sudden body stiffness.
• • Rhythmic jerking of the face, arm, or leg.
• • State of unconsciousness.
• • Grimacing, chewing, lip smacking, or drooling.
• • Mostly there is a period of sleepiness after a seizure.

CAUSES

In most cases there is no obvious cause (idiopathic). Of the remaining the more common reasons include:
- stroke
- congenital abnormalities
- brain tumors
- trauma
- infection such as meningitis, encephalitis
- use of certain medications such as anti depressants

DIAGNOSIS

- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Head CT / MRI, to identify the part of the brain that has got affected
- EEG (electroencephalogram) - to measure brain activity level

TREATMENT METHODS

- Medication, such as Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Primidone, Valproic acid, Diazepam, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Topiramate, etc.
These medications should be taken regularly as prescribed by the treating neurologist.

- Epilepsy surgery, to resect the abnormal portion of the brain causing seizures.

- Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implantation.

You may also like to learn about:

Brain tumor
Seizures
Meningitis
Encephalitis
Stroke
Coma