| Epilepsy is a condition in which people have epileptic | | | | does not respond well to drug therapy. |
| attacks (also known as seizures). It is one of the more | | | | Infection - epilepsy risk |
| common neurological conditions, affecting 0.5-1 per | | | | Exposure to certain maternal infections in the womb |
| cent of the population. Epilepsy is not a single condition, | | | | increases the odds of epilepsy in childhood, according |
| but a group of conditions with differing causes, | | | | to an analysis of data from a Danish study. |
| treatments and prognoses. | | | | Drug treatment of epilepsy |
| In epilepsy this order is disrupted by some neurone | | | | It is conventional to speak of someone having epilepsy, |
| discharging signals inappropriately. There may be a kind | | | | but it might be better particularly in relation to promoting |
| of brief electrical "storm" arising from nuerones that | | | | better drug treatment if we were to think in terms of |
| are inherently unstable because of a genetic defect | | | | one of the epilepsies. Appropriate management |
| (as in the various types of inherited epilepsy), or from | | | | requires not only that doctors differentiate between |
| neurones made unstable by metabolic abnormalities | | | | epilepsy and other similar attacks but also that they |
| such as low blood glucose, or alcohol. Alternatively, the | | | | identify correctly patients' seizure types and, in some |
| abnormal discharge may come from a localised area | | | | cases, the syndrome (for example, juvenile myoclonic |
| of the brain (this is the situation in patients with epilepsy | | | | epilepsy). |
| caused by head injury, or brain tumour). | | | | Treatment for people with epilepsy aged 13 and over |
| Background | | | | Epilepsy is a very individual condition and people can |
| Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was defined in 1985 by | | | | have very different experiences. The majority of |
| the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) as a | | | | people with epilepsy take anti-epileptic medication to |
| condition characterized What Causes Epilepsy? | | | | stop or reduce the number of seizures they have.by |
| Epilepsy is a condition in which people have epileptic | | | | recurrent unprovoked seizures originating from the |
| attacks (also known as seizures). It is one of the more | | | | medial or lateral temporal lobe. The seizures |
| common neurological conditions, affecting 0.5-1 per | | | | associated with TLE consist of simple partial seizures |
| cent of the population. Epilepsy is not a single condition, | | | | without loss of awareness (with or without aura) and |
| but a group of conditions with differing causes, | | | | complex partial seizures (ie, with loss of awareness). |
| treatments and prognoses. | | | | The individual loses awareness during a complex |
| In epilepsy this order is disrupted by some neurone | | | | partial seizure because the seizure spreads to involve |
| discharging signals inappropriately. There may be a kind | | | | both temporal lobes, which causes impairment of |
| of brief electrical "storm" arising from nuerones that | | | | memory. |
| are inherently unstable because of a genetic defect | | | | Diagnosis |
| (as in the various types of inherited epilepsy), or from | | | | Epilepsy is diagnosed mainly via interpretation of a |
| neurones made unstable by metabolic abnormalities | | | | patient's medical history; the patient describes what the |
| such as low blood glucose, or alcohol. Alternatively, the | | | | seizures were like and, when a patient can't recall the |
| abnormal discharge may come from a localised area | | | | seizures, witnesses also may be asked to describe |
| of the brain (this is the situation in patients with epilepsy | | | | what they saw. |
| caused by head injury, or brain tumour). | | | | Tests may be done to rule out shortterm causes of |
| Background | | | | seizures, such as uncontrolled diabetes or infections. A |
| Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was defined in 1985 by | | | | complete neurological exam is done, including an EEG |
| the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) as a | | | | (electroencephalogram, a machine that records brain |
| condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked | | | | waves picked up by wires taped to the head). |
| seizures originating from the medial or lateral temporal | | | | Can Epilepsy be Prevented? |
| lobe. The seizures associated with TLE consist of | | | | Many cases of epilepsy can be prevented by wearing |
| simple partial seizures without loss of awareness (with | | | | seatbelts and bicycle helmets, putting children in car |
| or without aura) and complex partial seizures (ie, with | | | | seats, and other measures that prevent head injury |
| loss of awareness). | | | | and other trauma. Prescribing medication after first or |
| The individual loses awareness during a complex | | | | second seizures or febrile seizures also may |
| partial seizure because the seizure spreads to involve | | | | helpprevent epilepsy in some cases. |
| both temporal lobes, which causes impairment of | | | | High-fat diet to control epilepsy?new study shows |
| memory. | | | | strong evidence that a high fat, low carb diet can help |
| Diagnosis | | | | control seizures in children with stubborn epilepsy that |
| Epilepsy is diagnosed mainly via interpretation of a | | | | does not respond well to drug therapy. |
| patient's medical history; the patient describes what the | | | | Infection - epilepsy risk |
| seizures were like and, when a patient can't recall the | | | | Exposure to certain maternal infections in the womb |
| seizures, witnesses also may be asked to describe | | | | increases the odds of epilepsy in childhood, according |
| what they saw. | | | | to an analysis of data from a Danish study. |
| Tests may be done to rule out shortterm causes of | | | | Drug treatment of epilepsy |
| seizures, such as uncontrolled diabetes or infections. A | | | | It is conventional to speak of someone having epilepsy, |
| complete neurological exam is done, including an EEG | | | | but it might be better particularly in relation to promoting |
| (electroencephalogram, a machine that records brain | | | | better drug treatment if we were to think in terms of |
| waves picked up by wires taped to the head). | | | | one of the epilepsies. Appropriate management |
| Can Epilepsy be Prevented? | | | | requires not only that doctors differentiate between |
| Many cases of epilepsy can be prevented by wearing | | | | epilepsy and other similar attacks but also that they |
| seatbelts and bicycle helmets, putting children in car | | | | identify correctly patients' seizure types and, in some |
| seats, and other measures that prevent head injury | | | | cases, the syndrome (for example, juvenile myoclonic |
| and other trauma. Prescribing medication after first or | | | | epilepsy). |
| second seizures or febrile seizures also may | | | | Treatment for people with epilepsy aged 13 and over |
| helpprevent epilepsy in some cases. | | | | Epilepsy is a very individual condition and people can |
| High-fat diet to control epilepsy?new study shows | | | | have very different experiences. The majority of |
| strong evidence that a high fat, low carb diet can help | | | | people with epilepsy take anti-epileptic medication to |
| control seizures in children with stubborn epilepsy that | | | | stop or reduce the number of seizures they have. |