Epilepsy Flashcards
What is a seizure?
Sudden burst of uncontrolled electrical activity within the brain, causing disruption in the regular messaging resulting in an observable physical reaction in the body
What are the classifications of seizures?
How are they classified?
Partial and Generalised
Partial seizures involve irregular electrical activity in a smaller part of the brain whereas generalised seizures involve irregular electrical activity across the whole brain
What are two different types of partial seizures?
Simple partial seizures (Aura)
* Involves a small area of the brain
* The person is fully aware but may not be able to control function or behaviour
* Strange sensations, abdominal pain, olfactory or visual abnormalities, restless or sudden movement, hearing distortion, anxiety and/or fear
Complex partial seizures
* Involves a larger area of the brain than a simple partial seizure
* Altered consciousness
* Cannot control function or behaviour
* May be preceded by a simple partial seizure
* May involve changes in memory
* May develop into a generalised seizure if abnormal electrical activity spreads
What are two different types of generalised seizure?
Tonic-clonic Seizure
* Total loss of consciousness and stiffening of muscles in tonic phase
* Jerking and twitching of extremities in clonic phase
* Slow return to consciousness with tiredness and confusion
Absence Seizure
* Loss of awareness
* May appear to be daydreaming or staring into space
* Can be preceded and followed by regular activity
* Minimal movement during seizure
What are the stages of a seizure?
Prodromal stage
Aura
Ictus (Seizure)
Post-Ictus
What symptoms can occur in the prodromal stage of a seizure?
How long before a seizure can these symptoms begin?
Low mood
Irritation and anger
Difficulty sleeping
Anxiety
GI Irritation
Urinary issues
These can occur days before a seizure
What symptoms can occur in the aura stage of a seizure?
How long before a seizure can these symptoms begin and do they occur with all seizures?
Altered vision or hearing
Anxiety
Dizziness
Inability to speak
Sudden weird taste or smell
Deja vu
These can occur just before a seizure but not with all seizures
How long does a seizure normally last?
What happens if a seizure lasts more than 5 mins or a person has back-to-back seizures without recovering consciousness?
Usually 1-3 minutes
Greater than 5 minutes or back-to-back seizures (Status epilepticus) can potentially cause brain damage
What happens in the post-ictus phase of a seizure?
How long can it last?
The brain is recovering from the seizure
The person may feel
* Tired
* Confused
* Headache
This stage can last from hours to days after a tonic-clonic seizure
