Lecture 7 - Epilepsy

Question 1

Which two factors does one need to exude to meet the definition of epileptic seizures

Answer 1

Abnormal/excessive electrical dyscharges and behaviour manifestations

Question 2

When does one get the epilepsy diagnoses?

Answer 2

2 or more unprovoked seizures (interval >24h) and epilepsy syndrome (a distinctive cluster of disease characteristics)

Question 3

Epidemiology of epilepsy?

Answer 3

5-9:1000, mostly <10y or >65y, mostly in non-western countries

Question 4

Which four types of epilepsy are there? (seizures)

Answer 4

Focal, generalized, combination, unknown

Question 5

Etiology (causes) of epilepsy? (6)

Answer 5

Structural, genetic, infection, metabolism, immune system and ???

Question 6

What is a focal seizure?

Answer 6

Focal seizures start in one part of the brain (and sometimes spread).

Question 7

What is a generalized seizure?

Answer 7

Generalized seizures affect both hemispheres and always include unawareness.

Question 8

What do idiopathic, cryptogenic and symptomatic mean, respectively?

Answer 8

Cause of epilepsy unknown, strong suspection of cause and cause is known

Question 9

What is photosensitive epilepsy?

Answer 9

seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering lights or certain patterns/frequencies. Can also be triggering for teens and kids w/ generalized epilepsy or lack of sleep

Question 10

What is pre-ictal and what does it entail?

Answer 10

Time period before seizure onset, can last up to days and include behavioural restlessness/changes

Question 11

What is post-ictal and what does it entail?

Answer 11

Time period after seizure onset, sometimes lasts days. Can include restlessness, increased appetite/thirst, disorientation and agression

Question 12

What three types of focal seizures are there?

Answer 12

Focal awareness seizures/simple partial seizure (symptoms depend on which brain area is affected, maybe aura)

Focal impaired awareness seizures/complex partial seizure (most common, usually only last a couple of minutes)

Focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (full body stiffness-jerking, loss of consciousness)

Question 13

What four possible “symptom areas” can be affected with epilepsy?

Answer 13

Symptoms can be cognitive

motor (unconsciousness, muscle)

autonomic (sweating, saliva excess, skin colour changes, gastric uprising)

sensory (affected senses)

Question 14

What five types of generalized seizures are there?

Answer 14

There are absence seizures (black-out, staring blankly, very short)

tonic/clonic/tonic-clonic seizures (stiffness and jerking, respectively)

atonic seizures (“drop attack” full muscle relaxation and loss off consiousness)

myoclonic seizures (muscle jolts- almost as if shocked by electricity)