Epilepsy Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is epilepsy?
A variety of disorders due to underlying brain dysfunction, defined by at least one spontaneous unprovoked seizure with a likelihood of recurrence.
What causes an epileptic seizure?
Occasional, sudden, excessive, and disorderly electrical discharge of grey matter neurons.
Do reactive seizures constitute epilepsy?
No, seizures triggered by reversible changes (e.g., pH, glucose, electrolytes) do not constitute epilepsy.
What determines the symptoms of a seizure?
The site of cerebral electrical discharge.
What are the two main classifications of epilepsy?
Generalised epilepsy and partial epilepsy.
What are the types of partial seizures?
Simple partial, complex partial, secondary generalised.
What defines a simple partial seizure?
Consciousness is not impaired.
What defines a complex partial seizure?
Consciousness is impaired, may begin as simple partial.
What is a secondary generalised seizure?
Partial seizure that evolves into generalised tonic-clonic seizure.
What are symptoms of simple partial seizures?
Depend on focus: motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic.
What is a petit mal seizure?
Absence seizure with sudden loss of consciousness (5–15 sec), often with eyelid flicker.
What is a grand mal seizure?
Tonic-clonic seizure involving loss of consciousness, tonic and clonic phases, followed by post-ictal sleep.
What is status epilepticus?
Seizure >30 mins or >2 seizures in 30 mins without return to baseline.
Name examples of unclassified epileptic seizures.
Neonatal seizures, West syndrome, febrile seizures, reflex seizures.
List causes of partial seizures.
Infections, vascular issues, trauma, metabolic problems, drugs/toxins, tumors.
What are common seizure precipitants?
Sleep deprivation, stress, exhaustion, infection, substance use.
What are uncommon seizure precipitants?
Loud noise, music, hot baths, reading, fasting.
What is the goal of epilepsy management?
Control seizures with drug therapy or surgery in refractory cases.
What is the first principle of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy?
Start with monotherapy.
When is combination therapy used in epilepsy?
When monotherapy is ineffective.
What are the preferred drugs for partial seizures?
Carbamazepine, phenytoin > phenobarbital, primidone.
Preferred drugs for generalized tonic-clonic seizures?
Valproic acid, phenobarbital, primidone > carbamazepine/phenytoin.
Preferred drug for absence seizures?
Ethosuximide.
Preferred drugs for myoclonic seizures?
Valproic acid, clonazepam.
