NEUROLOGICAL CLINICAL

ASPECTS OF EPILEPSY
Student: VUKOSAVLJEVIC Nikola
Class: 44
WHAT IS EPILEPSY?
 Epilepsy is chronic neurological disorder affecting both sexes and all ages, worldwide.
 The term is also applied to a large group of symptoms called epileptic seizures.
 Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder.
 Epilepsy is characterized by unpredictable seizures and can cause other health problems.
 Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with a wide range of seizure types and control varying from
person-to-person.

Revised definition of epilepsy

Seizures and epilepsy are not the same. An epileptic seizure is a transient occurrence of signs and/or
symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Epilepsy is a
disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the
neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition. Translation: a
seizure is an event and epilepsy is the disease involving recurrent unprovoked seizures.

A person is considered to have epilepsy if they meet any of the following conditions:

1. At least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring greater than 24 hours apart.
2. One unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general
recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years.

How do we diagnose epilepsy?

 clinical examination
 medical history
 EEG (electroencephalography)
 CT scan
 MRI scan
Epilepsy is considered to be resolved for individuals who had an age-dependent epilepsy syndrome
but are now past the applicable age or those who have remained seizure-free for the last 10 years, with
no seizure medicines for the last 5 years.

electroencephalogram during epileptic seizure

normal electroencephalogram
 What is a seizure?
 A seizure is a sudden change of electrical activity in the brain.
 A seizure usually affects how a person appears or acts for a short time.
 The nature of seizures varies, because the lobes of the brain control different
behaviors, movements and experiences.
 An epileptic seizure is mainly based on the chemical reactions in the brain.
 Many other diseases can also cause a seizure (and it does not mean that person has epilepsy, but
the risk is higher). A seizure can cause brain infection, injury of the brain, CVI, etc.
 Seizures are generally described in two major groups: generalized seizures and focal seizures.
 The difference between types of seizures is in how and where they begin in the brain.

A seizure first aid

 DO NOT MOVE OR EVEN TOUCH PERSON DURING A SEIZURE!
 YOU CAN`T STOP IT!
 Only thing you can do is putting something soft under the person`s head to prevent brain trauma
during a seizure.
 Call ambulance.
 After a seizure you have to move person on the one side and make sure that person is safe.
 If a seizure repeats, do the same thing.