Epilepsy

Question 1

What is epilepsy?

Answer 1

Spontaneous, intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain manifesting a seizure

Question 2

What are the elements of a seizure?

Answer 2

Prodome: lasting hours/ days, change in mood
Aura: strange feeling in gut, deja vu, strange smells, flashing lights
Post-ictally: headache, confusion, myalgia

Question 3

What are the types of epilepsy?

Answer 3

Primary generalised: throughout whole brain
Partial/ focal: one part of the brain

Question 4

Types of generalised seizures?

Answer 4

Tonic-clonic: loss of consciousness, tongue bitten, tonic (rigid limbs), clonic (muscle jerking)
Absence: childhood, ceases activity, staring
Myoclonic: sudden isolated jerk of limb

Question 5

Types of partial/ focal seizures?

Answer 5

Simple: doesn’t affect memory or consciousness
Complex: does affect memory and consciousness

Question 6

Investigations?

Answer 6

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 7

management?

Answer 7

Prolonged/ repeated seizures: IV diazepam and Iv phenytoin
Oral sodium valproate, oral lamotrigine, oral carbamazepine