Epilepsy
What is epileptic seizure?
An epileptic seizure develops when the electrification that is already present in the brain to fulfill our usual functions occurs uncontrolled, temporarily more than necessary. Takes about 1-2 minutes. Any function of the brain can appear as different types of seizures. It can be like periods of absence, of mind, bright lights, previous memories, smell, tinnitus, or unanswered, absent-mindedness that affects consciousness. Often convulsive, large seizures are well recognized, but more subtle small seizures can be both overlooked and underestimated. More than one seizure pattern can occur in the same person, and a localized seizure may spread, leading to more common seizures. It is important that these attacks are short-lived, always repeat the same, and start and end suddenly.Seizures can also occur as a sudden response to acute injury or disease affecting our brain or system, regardless of epilepsy; Just as fever occurs due to many different diseases. For example, during acute intoxications, febrile brain infections, febrile convulsions in children.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy disease is characterized by recurrent seizures due to temporary brain electrification. There are many different type of epilepsy diseases. There may be many different reasons such as cerebral hemorrhage, tumor, trauma-related brain tissue. It is seen in about one percent of the population. Generally, all other brain functions are healthy. Individuals with epilepsy can continue their lives in a healthy way, get married, read, get education, work and produce.
Causes
Causes such as head injuries, stroke and other brain diseases, neurodegenerative (conditions with loss of brain functions) such as dementia, brain infections (previous meningitis, encephalitis, abscess), brain surgery can be detected. However, no specific reason can be determined under most of them. Generally, there are reasons arising from the personal differences in how the brain generates electricity. Family history: Diseases can sometimes show familial characteristics. There may be similar epilepsy characteristics, sometimes different seizure types, in the same family. There may be a higher risk of developing a seizure disorder if there is a family history of epilepsy. Epilepsy can sometimes be associated with developmental disorders such as autism and neurofibromatosis and may have an identifiable genetic feature.
Seizures in childhood: High fever in childhood can sometimes be associated with seizures. Children who experience seizures due to high fever usually do not develop epilepsy. A child may need to be evaluated in terms of the possibility of epilepsy if the febrile convulsion lasts for a long time, has an underlying cause. Developmental disorders and certain genetic diseases can be seen more frequently in children. Various factors such as infection in the mother before birth, during pregnancy, malnutrition or oxygen deficiencies, conditions that may occur during delivery can cause brain damage and epilepsy.
At what ages is it seen?
It can be seen in anyone of all ages. It does not matter whether male, female or age. The onset of epilepsy is most common in children and older adults, but can occur at any age. Seizure symptoms can vary. The cause of epilepsy varies according to each age group. A wide variety of causes such as congenital anomalies, genetic causes, serious head injuries, strokes, brain infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, and brain tumors are among the causes of epilepsy, as well as causes such as lack of oxygen during birth and trauma.
What are the symptoms?
Epilepsy symptoms differ from person to person. One or more symptoms may occur together. Symptoms may not be all seen. Loss of consciousness, falling down, bouncing in the hands and feet, similarly repetitive feelings and emotions that cannot be given meaning, smell, sound, a strange, inexplicable, intrinsic, rising feeling, numbness in the arm and leg, feeling a memory of a previous experience can be given as examples. It should be kept in mind that such findings, especially at the level of feeling, can be repeated by everyone from time to time during the day, and it is important that repeating of these attacks are in the same way. In major seizures, falls, spasm, mouth foam, and urinary incontinence can be seen. Things to watch out for in a person who has an epileptic seizure: This situation may change according to the type of seizure. In severe convulsive seizures, there is no method to stop the seizure outside the hospital. It usually ends with the brain suppressing electrification within a certain period of time. At this moment, preventing the person from being harmed is the most important step. To prevent it from falling down, placing a soft pillow under her head, before clenching her teeth, an object that is soft enough not to get into her throat, but hard enough to harm patient's throat can be placed. Like the tip of a stiff piece of cloth or the tip of a wooden spoon. Forcing, trying hard to stop the contraction harms the person by causing fractured dislocations. Interventions to open the jaw cause injuries and tooth fractures. Sharp, broken objects that will cause injury in the environment should be removed. It may be necessary to inform the healthcare teams and direct the patient to the health institution. Sometimes people may continue their movements during seizures with loss of consciousness, pass on a crosswalk, continue cooking and bathing with hot water. In this case, it may be necessary to secure the patient to prevent injury. It should also be kept in mind that small seizures can spread to other parts of the brain and turn into a major seizure. Mistakes made during seizures cause physical injuries, and mistakes made in the social dimension of epilepsy cause mental injuries.
What kind of disease is it?
Epilepsy is not contagious, it mostly does not progress, it does not harm third parties. Attacks lasting 1-2 minutes, maybe once a year, maybe once a month, cause problems in people's lives due to misinformation and beliefs. Many cases such as being fired, not being given a job, and not being able to marry hinder the productivity and healthy life of individuals and society. It can lead to risks by causing the disease to hide. Misinformation can lead to excluding people because of the illness. This situation may lead to accompany social and psychological problems. Learning about epilepsy is the most important stage in terms of avoiding false beliefs and preventing wrong practices. Not epilepsy but misconceptions about epilepsy, do more harm to the person.
Can it be treated? How it is made?
Epileptic seizures can be treated. Although the drugs used do not cause the disease to disappear completely, as in blood pressure patients, it makes it possible to control it. After the type of seizure is determined, regular and planned use of the drug or drugs prescribed by the physician is of great importance. 60-70 percent of the patients can live a problem-free life by using regular medication, staying under the control of a doctor, taking care of medication. The main thing here is to use the medicine regularly, as well as pay attention to healthy living rules. Sometimes it may be necessary to continue using medication for many years. In some epilepsy diseases, especially those seen in childhood, the disease may limit itself and medications may be discontinued after a certain period of time.
In some epilepsy diseases, especially those seen in childhood, the disease may limit itself and drug use may be discontinued after a certain period of time.
Surgical methods can be applied in cases of treatment-resistant epilepsy where drug therapy is insufficient. The aim here is to determine the area where the epileptic seizure originates, and to remove this area by surgical methods. This requires a series of scrupulous examinations. Seizures can be controlled in certain epilepsy diseases where the findings are clearly evaluated. There are different methods of surgery as well as different methods such as vagal nerve stimulation and ketogenic diet.
How is it diagnosed?
Evaluation of epilepsy begins with a detailed story, the person's experiences, and statement of eyewitnesses. For this reason, it is important to be informed, to understand the disease and its findings, and to keep records. Blood tests should be done after neurological and physical examination. Electroencephalography (EEG) examination helps to prevent the brain from generating electrical signals, as in the heart electrode. The examination may not always show finding. If necessary, investigations during sleep or longer periods of frequent seizures are required. An important point here is the separator diagnosis. It is inevitable to have heart examinations in a person who is thought to have fainted due to a heart problem. The purpose of all these examinations is to try to understand the seizure type, epilepsy type and the characteristics of the disease. Detailed brain imaging (MRI magnetic resonance) examination in brain imaging is an important method in determining the possible underlying cause. If necessary, further examinations such as brain PET examination may be required. Neuropsychological tests are of particular importance. At the Liv Hospital Ulus Epilepsy Clinic, with a team of specialist physicians, diagnosis and treatment are meticulously applied for diagnosis and treatment, using the latest technological methods, and contemporary, dynamic and multi-dimensional support is provided.
Team work is necessity
Liv Hospital Ulus Epilepsy Clinic offers personalized treatment for each patient. In the Liv Hospital Ulus Epilepsy Clinic, the patient's findings are evaluated by neurologists specialized in epilepsy. Required evaluations are planned for differential diagnosis. In the pediatric age group, pediatric neurologists, imaging specialists (radiologists), neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, nuclear medicine specialists, neurosurgeons evaluate the patient in relation to their own fields. As a result, the neurologist determines the most appropriate treatment for the patient. A team work is required to evaluate surgical treatment and advanced treatment methods in treatment-resistant cases. It is extremely important to follow people regularly, to inform them, to follow up on possible problems, social support, possible side effects, and to provide consultancy on marriage and child health. It is at least as effective as medications that the individual should recognize the disease, know the possible problems, risks, inform her doctor about the changes, and take an active role in the treatment process. Multidimensional handling of epilepsy will make our people and society healthier and more productive. The aim is to provide a way that they can continue their lives as healthy individuals like everyone else, except for a short-term, maybe once a year, attack period.