Idiopathic Seizure Disorder

Idiopathic Seizure Disorder, also known as epilepsy, is a disorder that causes recurring seizures with no identifiable cause. Symptoms vary from patient to patient. Some people will have full-blown seizures, while others may simply stare off into space for a few seconds. Individuals must have at least two seizures that are not brought on by other disorders or medical conditions to be diagnosed with the disorder.

Causes

• About 50 percent of seizures can be traced to genetic influence, head trauma, medical disorders such as heart attack and stroke, dementia, prenatal injuries such as oxygen deficiencies and poor nutrition, diseases such as meningitis and viral encephalitis and developmental disorders such as autism. But for the other 50 percent, the cause of the disorder is unknown.

Symptoms

• Individuals with idiopathic seizure disorder will experience seizures. They may involve staring spells, confusion, jerking movements in the limbs or a complete loss of consciousness. Individuals with the disorder tend to have the same type of symptoms/seizures time and again.

Risk Factors

• Men are at more risk for developing idiopathic seizure disorder than women. The onset of the disorder is generally in early childhood or after the age of 65. People with a family history of epilepsy, who have suffered head injuries or have vascular disease are more likely to develop the disorder.

Treatment

• Idiopathic seizure disorder is treated with medication. Anti-epileptic drugs can reduce the intensity and frequency of seizures. Finding the right medication may take some time. Most patients are started on one medication at a time at a low dose, working toward the proper medication and/or medication combinations.

Seizure Warnings

• Seek medical attention immediately if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if you have trouble breathing after the seizure, if another seizure follows the first, or if you are pregnant, have diabetes or have injured yourself while having a seizure.

Complications/Warnings

• Falling during a seizure risk can lead to head injuries or broken bones. People who have the disorder are more likely to drown or to have a traffic accident. Some states have driver's license restrictions for people with ISD. Women who have epilepsy who are pregnant should be carefully monitored by their physicians to ensure that anti-seizure medications do not increase the risk of birth defects.