Let’s Learn About

Epilepsy
 What is Epilepsy?
• Epilepsy is a disruption of the normal electrical activity of the
brain that results in seizures. Under certain circumstances
anyone can have a seizure.
•
• Seizures occur when the brain's electrical signals misfire and
a person's consciousness or actions are altered for a short
period of time. When the electrical signals return to normal,
usually within a few seconds or a few minutes, the seizure
stops.
•
• Seizures usually occurs without warning and without the
person's awareness of what is happening. Some people
with epilepsy will have only an occasional seizure, while
others will have many on a daily basis.
Source: http://endoflifecare.tripod.com/juvenilehuntingtonsdisease/id43.html
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 All seizures are not Epilepsy
• A seizure is a symptom of epilepsy. Having a single seizure
does not necessarily mean a person has epilepsy.
•
• A number of factors, including high fever, severe head injury
and lack of oxygen, can affect the brain enough to cause a
single seizure.
•
• Epilepsy, on the other hand, is an underlying condition that
affects the delicate systems that govern how electrical
energy behaves in the brain, making the brain susceptible
to recurring seizures. While any seizure is cause for
concern, having a seizure does not by itself mean a person
has epilepsy.
•
• First seizures, febrile seizures, non-epileptic events, and
eclampsia are examples of seizures that may not be
Source: http://neurology.health-cares.net/epilepsy-seizures-difference.php
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associated with epilepsy.
 Facts about Epilepsy
• Epilepsy affects 2.7 million Americans, more Americans than cerebral palsy,
multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease combined.
• Approximately 200,000 new cases of epilepsy occur each year.
• Everyone's brain has the ability to produce a seizure under the right
conditions.
• Epilepsy can develop at any age. However, it is diagnosed most often
before the age of 20 and after the age of 60.
• With the appropriate treatment, up to 70% of people with epilepsy could be
seizure free.
• Only a few percent of people with epilepsy are affected by flashing lights–
this is called photosensitivity.
• The Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BC) was the first person to
recognize that epilepsy starts in the brain.
• Ten percent of the American population will experience a seizure at least
once in their lifetime. 1 person in 20 will have a seizure at some time in
their life
•

Source: http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/PAGES/info/leaflets/epfacts.cfm
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 Classification of Seizures
Seizure Classification

Partial Generalized
seizure activity starts in one area of the seizure involves whole brain &
brain consciousness is affected

Simple Complex
Retains awareness Altered awareness and behavior

Secondary generalization
(spreading from one area to the whole
brain)

Tonic Clonic Absence Tonic or Atonic Myoclonic

“grand-mal” or convulsion
Loss of consciousness,
stiffening of body then
jerking of limbs
‘drop attack”
“petit mal” or starting fit or Sudden muscle jerks
Abrupt fall, either with
trance like state
stiffening (tonic) or with
loss of muscle tone (atonic
or “astatic” attacks)

Source: http://www.epilepsy.org.au/fact_sheets/seizure%20Classsification.pdf
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 Prevalence of seizure types
Generalized Simple Partial,
tonic clonic, 14%
23%

Other
generalized,
8%

Partial
unknown, 7%

Absence, 6%
Complex
Partial, 36% Myoclonic, 3%
Unclassified,
3%

Source: www.med.uc.edu/neurology/epilepsyinfo.htm
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 Types of Epilepsy
1 Partial epilepsies 2 Generalized idiopathic epilepsies

These are epilepsies with a clearly defined Generalized epilepsies are those which have
focal area within the brain. As a result, they no defined focal area within the brain.
have characteristic symptoms, such as visual Idiopathic is a medical term meaning that
hallucinations, or motor difficulties on one there is no clear environmental cause for the
side of the body. epilepsy and it is presumed that genetic
factors predominate.
Types of Partial epilepsy
•Benign occipital epilepsy Types of Generalized idiopathic epilepsy
•Benign rolandic epilepsy •Benign myoclonic epilepsy in infants
•Frontal lobe epilepsy •Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
•Occipital lobe epilepsy •Childhood absence epilepsy
•Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy •Juvenile absence epilepsy
•Parietal lobe epilepsy

Source: http://www.mynchen.demon.co.uk/epilepsy/Types/Types%20of_epilepsy.htm
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 Types of Epilepsy ( continued)
3 Generalized symptomatic epilepsies 4 Unclassified epilepsies

Generalized epilepsies are those which have Unclassified epilepsies is the grouping for
no defined focal area within the brain; as a epilepsies which do not fit the classification.
result they have generalized symptoms as
the whole brain becomes affected.
Types of Unclassified epilepsy
Types of Generalized symptomatic epilepsy •Febrile seizures
•West syndrome •Epilepsy with continuous spike and
•Lennox-Gastaut syndrome waves in slow wave sleep (ESES)
•Progressive myoclonus epilepsies •Landau Kleffner syndrome
•Rasmussen's syndrome

Source: http://www.mynchen.demon.co.uk/epilepsy/Types/Types%20of_epilepsy.htm
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 Causes of seizures
•Heredity - the risk of getting epilepsy is 2.5 times
Vascular, Congenital,
greater with a family history of seizures than
10% 8%
when no family member has had the disorder
•Head trauma - the more severe the injury, the
greater the risk of developing epilepsy Trauma,
6%
•Brain tumor and stroke Tumor, 4%
•Poisoning - such as lead poisoning. More than Degene-
rative, 4%
5,000 people annually suffer seizures caused
Unknown, Infection,
by alcoholism. 65% 3%
•Infections - such as meningitis, viral
encephalitis, mumps, measles and diphtheria
•Maternal injury - such as infection or systemic
illness affecting the fetus' developing brain
during pregnancy

Source: www.med.uc.edu/neurology/epilepsyinfo.htm
http://www.epilepsysandiego.org/aboutep.htm
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 Possible seizure triggers

Stress Alcohol Unhealthy nutrition Skipping meals

Lack of sleep, exhaustion Irregular medication Flickering lights Illness and allergies

Source: http://www.pfizer.be/English/What_we_do/Health_info/epilepsy.htm
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 Symptoms of Epilepsy

nvulsion with orBlackout

without or
a fever
confused
Suddenmemory
fear, anger for no reason
Blank staring Sudden Muscle
stiffening
jerks of arms, legs or b

Conditions that may be mistaken for epilepsy

•Seizures associated with high fever
•Fainting
•Sleep disorders: nightmares, narcolepsy, cataplexy
•Psychiatric disorders: panic attacks, fugue states, psychogenic seizures
•Migraine headaches
•Childhood breath-holding episodes

Source: http://www.umm.edu/nervous/epilepsy.htm
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 Prognosis
• Certain types of childhood epilepsy resolve or improve with age.

•
• A seizure-free period of 4 years may indicate that reduction or
elimination of medications is possible.

•
• Death or permanent brain damage from seizures is rare, but can
occur if the seizure is prolonged.

•
• Death or brain damage are most often caused by prolonged lack of
breathing and resultant death of brain tissue from lack of oxygen.

•
• Infrequent seizures may not severely restrict the person's lifestyle.
Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000694.htm#Expectations%20(prognosis)
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 Thank You

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