Topic 45 - Classification of seizures.

Question 1

What is a seizure, definition:

Answer 1

disturbance of brain function that has a sudden onset,
ceases spontaneously, has a tendency to recur

Question 2

Seizure are usually associated with:

Answer 2

• loss/derangement of consciousness
• excessive or decreased voluntary muscle tone or movement
• visceral muscle activity
• altered behavior

Question 3

We classify seizures from their muscle function and implication of the body, name the muscle function classifications:

Answer 3

Tonic
Clonic
Tonico-Clonic
Myoclonic
Atonic

Question 4

What is a tonic seizure?

Answer 4

characterised by increased muscle tone

Question 5

What is a clonic seizure?

Answer 5

characterised by rapid alternate muscular contractions and relaxations

Question 6

What is a tonico-clonic seizure?

Answer 6

Mixture of them both

Question 7

What is a myoclonic seizure?

Answer 7

Sporadic movement typically on both sides of the body

Question 8

What is a atonic seizure?

Answer 8

Sudden loss of muscle tone which causes collapse

Question 9

Name the classifications of seizures regarding the implication of body parts

Answer 9

1. Partial/Focal
2. Generalized
   (3. Complex partial)

Question 10

What is a partial seizure?

Answer 10

Only affects a partial region of one half of the brain

1. remains localized to one body region
2. may progress to generalized seizure
3. focus of the convulsions could be localised, followed by special symptoms suck as tail-chasing

Question 11

What is a generalized seizure?

Answer 11

Occurs across both sides of the brain

1. affects the brain diffusely
2. generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Question 12

What is epilepsy?

Answer 12

A condition affecting the brain, causing frequent seizures

Question 13

How would you classify epilepsy?

Answer 13

According to their etiology

Also calssified according to severity

Question 14

Name the classifications:

Answer 14

1. Idiopathic
2. Structural epilepsy
3. Cryptogenic
4. Extracranial

Question 15

Name the classification according to severity:

Answer 15

Cluster seizure
Status epilepticus

Question 16

What is a idiopathic epilepsy?

Answer 16

functional disease (no obvious structural abnormality)

Question 17

What is a structural epilepsy?

Answer 17

intracranial

Question 18

What is cryptogenic epilepsy?

Answer 18

• lesion strongly suspected but not justified
• after head trauma, post anaesthesia, post-encephalitis

Question 19

What is extracranial epilepsy?

Answer 19

metabolic or toxic

Question 20

What is a cluster seizure?

Answer 20

2 or more seizures within 24 hour period

Question 21

What is status epilepticus?

Answer 21

1. Seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
2. Several seizures lasting over a short period of time without regaining full consciousness

Question 22

Other forms for convulsions, which is NOT necessarily connected to CNS:

Answer 22

1. Tetanus = sustained tonic contraction of muscles without twitching
2. Tremor = regular, rhythmic trembling if muscles
3. Tic = repetitive contractions of one muscle
4. Myoclonus = rhythmic contraction of one muscle group
5. Fibrillation = uncoordinated twitching of individual muscle fibres