1 Overview Epilepsi

8/3/2019 1 Overview Epilepsi

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One of the oldest Known conditions


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Alice Hanscomb

H anscomb T raining & C onsultancy


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Facts about epilepsy1 in 20 people will have a seizure in theirlife time

At least 1 in 131 people have epilepsy inthe UK with 75 new cases diagnosed daily

50 million world wide have epilepsymaking it the most common seriousneurological condition globally


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Facts about epilepsy

80 per cent of the worlds populationof people with epilepsy are in

developing countries90 per cent of people with epilepsy indeveloping countries are not

receiving appropriate treatment


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Epilepsy is a physical conditionIt can affect anyone at any age withoutwarning or apparent cause

There are many different causes, about 30different epileptic syndromes andover 38 different seizure types

It can go into remission as suddenly as itstarted or last a life time


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Someone can have more than onetype of seizure

The seizure type(s) someone has canchange with time or with drugtreatment


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What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy can be defined as:

A neurological condition causing the tendency for repeated seizures of

primary cerebral origin


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Physical Causes

Head injury from accidents, brain trauma, stroke,brain parasites, infections or diseases (such ascerebral malaria), scars on the brain and brain

tumours.In young children : head trauma and/or lack of oxygen during birth. Prolonged febrileconvulsions. Brain malformations and/or

birthmarks on the brain cause seizures to startearly in life or later on


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Genetic causes

Increasingly recognised that there aregenetic causes for epilepsy

Idiopathic epilepsy is thought to have agenetic causesLow seizure threshold can be inherited in

a small number of cases


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International League AgainstEpilepsy (ILAE)

seizure classificationDivided into focal and generalised

seizuresImportant to get seizure type rightas different treatments are

appropriate for different seizuretypes


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Focal seizures


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Focal seizures

Simple focal seizures No impairment of consciousness

Complex focal seizuresConsciousness effected to a lesser or

greater extent


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Generalised seizures


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Generalised seizuresSecondarily generalised focal onset

Consciousness is lost in generalised seizures

Seizure types include:TC, T, C, AT, MC, aA, A,

Then there are unclassifiable seizures.


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The most common

seizure types:

Tonic clonic

Complex partial


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Seizure managementGeneral guidelines

Note the timeMake the person safePut something soft under their headTC: once seizure has stopped put the person on their side and clear the airway if necessaryCP: speak reassuringly, calmly and quietly. Do not physically engage the person

unless you need to for their safetyPrevent others from crowding around and minimise embarrassmentStay with them until they are themselves again

Call for medical help if:They have injured themselves or are having difficulty breathing

If they have one seizure after another or the seizure lasts 2 mins longer thannormalThe tonic clonic seizure goes on for more than 5 minsIt is the persons first seizure


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Types of epilepsy

Idiopathic no structural cause, probablygenetic

Symptomatic structural cause

Cryptogenic no structural cause foundbut one suspected


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Some Possible Triggers

Missed medicationLack of sleepStress / boredomIrregular eatingOver indulgence of alcoholHormones

Visual triggers (very rare)


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Knowing that someone

has epilepsy tells you nothing!Does the person have seizures or are theycontrolled?If they do, what sort of seizures?How often do they occur and is there a pattern?Do they want/need medication and if so, which?How is the person after their seizures?How would they like others to manage theseizure, if at all?How are they coping with their epilepsy?


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It is thought that the reason the humanbrain has the ability to have seizures is

that way way back in our past epilepsy was of evolutionary advantage


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Facts about epilepsy At least two animals still have epilepsy for this

reason:

Mexican Waltzing Mouse

Papio Papio baboon

Documents

1 Overview Epilepsi