Description of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by seizures that are triggered by electrical impulses in the brain. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 10 percent of American adults will have a seizure during their lifetime. To be considered epileptic, a person has to have suffered at least two seizures. About 3 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, and about 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Seizures

• Seizures are the hallmark of epilepsy, but there are several different types of seizures, and people experience them very differently. The main types of seizures are called generalized seizures, partial seizures, status epilepticus and nonepileptic seizures. The type of seizure is dependent on the part of the brain that is effected. Common signs of a seizure include staring; loss of consciousness; jerking movements, especially of the arms and legs; and smacking of the lips.

Causes

• It is difficult to establish a direct cause for epilepsy except in patients who are young children or elderly, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. A direct cause is never established in about 70 percent of all cases. Possible causes of the disorder include genetics, prenatal injuries, head injuries, dementia, medical disorders and developmental disabilities.

Diagnosis

• When a person has a seizure, doctors will try to determine the cause and will try to determine whether it was an isolated incident or if there is a likelihood of it reoccurring. To start, your doctor will take a complete medical history, including asking questions about the seizure itself. Doctors also typically order medical imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans to see if there are any growths or other abnormalities on the brain and an EEG to record the brain's electrical signals. In many cases, these tests may not provide any conclusive answers as to why the seizure occurred, however.

Treatment

• After a person has one or more seizures, the doctor and patient must decide whether to treat the condition as epilepsy. If an underlying cause of the seizures is determined, the most important step is treating that condition. Anti-seizure medications are also commonly prescribed to epileptics. In many patients, these medications either stop seizures from occurring or decrease their frequency and intensity. If medications do not sufficiently help people suffering from epilepsy, doctors may recommend surgery. Surgery is typically reserved for patients whose seizures occur in small parts of the brain that do not interfere with vital human functions. Other possible treatment options include a procedure called vagus nerve stimulation.

Complications

• People with epilepsy do sometimes experience injuries or other complications related to their seizures. Epileptics can become injured during falls or other accidents while they are having a seizure. Epileptics are also more likely to drown than people without the condition. Additionally, in very rare cases, epileptics suffer from sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, or SUDEP. This condition is more common in people whose seizures are not well-controlled.