4 Types Of Epilepsys

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects an estimated 65 million people in the world. Those diagnosed with this disorder will endure having the normal pattern of neuronal activity in their brain being disturbed which causes a seizure that could either be practically benign or life-threatening (1). In order to be diagnosed with epilepsy, one must have at least two seizures in their lifetime. Seizures are put into two main categories, focal and generalized (4). The two main types of focal seizures are Simple-partial and Complex-partial. Simple-partial episodes are characterized by an alteration in senses that typically results in involuntary body movements without a loss of consciousness. Complex-partial seizures often end with a loss
of consciousness and will begin with one being unresponsive and performing repetitive movements, such as picking at a article of clothing or lip smacking. The generalized seizure category has a wider spectrum of severity and is made up of six different kinds. The least severe is an absence seizure, also known as a petit mal seizure, and is most commonly seen in children and consists of one staring into space or performing a subtle body movement. Tonic episodes are associated with the stiffening of muscles, while atonic episodes, known as “drop seizures”, are associated with total loss of muscle control. Clonic seizures have the symptoms of repetitive or rhythmic jerking muscle movements and Myoclonic episodes are characterized with sudden twitches of arms and legs. Finally, the most severe type of seizure, is the Tonic-Clonic which is most commonly referred to as a grand mal. This type of seizure consists of a total loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, loss of bladder control, and biting of the tongue. People thought to have these epileptic episodes will be tested with an EEG, or electroencephalogram, that detects abnormal electrical activity by recording brain wave patterns (2).
Once diagnosed with epilepsy, doctors will attempt to find the cause of the patient’s disorder.
CT’s and MRI’s, also known as Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, are the most common tests that will be performed. Epilepsy can be caused by genetics, head trauma, brain conditions, infectious diseases, prenatal injury, or developmental disorders (4). In some cases the cause is unknown, which is called having Idiopathic epilepsy. Some things that can increase one’s chances of developing this brain disorder include age, family history, head injuries, having a vascular disease, Dementia, Alzheimer's, brain infections, or seizures in one’s
childhood.
Having a brain condition such as epilepsy can have many different effects on one’s body. Seizures can often result in injuries from falling, self-inflicted bites, drowning, aspiration pneumonia (breathing in food or saliva during a seizure), car accidents, or pregnancy complications. It may also lead to mental issues such as depression, anxiety, or learning problems. The most severe effects epilepsy can have are life-threatening, often ending in death. One of these conditions Status Epilepticus, which is when someone is in the state of having a seizure for more than five minutes and will cause brain damage and usually death. The other most severe and rare effect that epileptics face is sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. This condition, also known as SUPED, has no known cause. Some research has been able to show that people with frequent Tonic-Clonic seizures are the ones most susceptible to SUPED.
There are two treatment options for people diagnosed with epilepsy.
All cases of epilepsy start out with being put on anticonvulsant medications. These drugs are taken orally and the type of drug prescribed depends on the patient’s age and type of seizures they endure. In some cases, patients are diagnosed with “medically refractory epilepsy,” which means that their seizure disorder is not controlled after trying at least two or three anti-seizure drugs (2). In cases such as this, the doctor will recommend surgery. The type of epilepsy surgery the patient will have done depends on the types of seizure they have and where they originate in the brain. The most common surgery, called resective surgery, is to remove a portion of the brain that is causing the seizures. This procedure has the highest rates of success. Another type of surgery performed could be the severation of the neuronal connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This procedure, also known as corpus callosotomy, is mainly used in children who have severe seizures. It often reduces the severity of the seizures and will not completely stop them from occurring. The last, and most radical procedure done, is called Hemispherectomy. It consists of removing the outer layer of half the brain and is used in children who have seizures because of damage done to one half of their brain. All of these operations have post-surgery risks of memory problems, behavioral changes, double vision, and reduced
visual field (3). Epilepsy is a condition that intrigues me to due to my diagnoses with it at the age of 11. I have had multiple episodes of Simple-Partial, Complex-Partial, and Tonic-Clonic seizures. The cause behind it is due to having seizures during childhood which created a scared on the back left side of my brain. My epileptic episodes were quickly controlled by medication, and only affected me with injuries from self-inflicted bites. I believe that Epilepsy is a condition that students should be more informed about because it affects 1 in 26 people, which is a fairly close ratio, and also because it can have very serious effects on those diagnosed with the disorder.