What Is Epilepsy? What Are Its Symptoms and Treatment Methods?
Also known as seizure disorder, epilepsy is a neurological condition in which neuronal activity in the brain is disrupted, causing unusual sensations, convulsions, and other seizure-related symptoms.
What Is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder defined by recurrent seizures. It occurs when normal nerve cell activity in the brain is disrupted or interrupted, causing a wide variety of seizure-related symptoms:
- Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
- Loss of awareness or consciousness
- Temporary confusion or psychic symptoms
In approximately half of epilepsy patients, the condition arises without a specific underlying cause. In some cases, the risk of epileptic seizures increases:
Family History: Certain types of epilepsy can occur in multiple family members, increasing the likelihood of a genetic component.
Focal Causes: A stroke or brain tumor can cause epilepsy; in fact, stroke is the leading cause of epilepsy in patients over 35.
Brain Trauma: Brain trauma sustained during sports, car accidents, or other causes can lead to epilepsy.
Viral Infections: Certain viral infections, including meningitis, viral encephalitis, and AIDS, can lead to epilepsy.
Developmental Issues: Individuals with autism, neurofibromatosis, and other developmental disorders have a higher likelihood of developing epilepsy.
Fetal Brain Injury: Infants who develop brain damage during fetal development — from oxygen deprivation, inadequate maternal nutrition, infection, or trauma — have an increased predisposition to epilepsy.
How Common Is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy affects people of all ages and is the fourth most common neurological disorder. Epilepsy affects approximately 65 million people worldwide.
How Is Epilepsy Treated?
While a patient who has had two or more unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart is considered to have epilepsy, diagnosing the condition typically requires a comprehensive neurological examination, blood tests, and various tests to detect abnormalities.
Once a patient has been properly evaluated and diagnosed, medication is started to reduce or eliminate seizures. Finding the right medication or combination of medications and the correct dosage is important and challenging. With appropriate treatment, approximately 60% of epilepsy patients can become seizure-free within a few years.