(PM3B) Epilepsy Flashcards
(31 cards)
What percentage of the population are affected by epilepsy?
~1%
What is epilepsy?
Neuronal hyperexcitability disorder
Arises from excess excitability/ disinhibition
What is disinhibition?
Inability to suppress inappropriate behaviour
What are the principle types of seizure?
(1) Partial seizures
(2) Generalised seizures
How is epilepsy most often characterised?
(1) Convulsions – impairment of motor activity
(2) Impaired consciousness
(3) Impaired perception
(4) Impaired behaviour
What is the most prevalent symptom of epilepsy?
Seizures
What is a convulsion?
Sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles
Is a convulsion the same as a seizure?
No
A seizure is a type of convulsion
A seizure is a convulsion due to epileptiform brain activity
Is an isolated seizure considered to be epilepsy?
No
What are some possible triggers of an isolated seizure?
(1) CNS infection/ inflammation
(2) Stroboscopic lighting
(3) Metabolic dysfunction
(4) Head injury
(5) Fever
(6) Drug-related
How can an isolated seizure be associated with epilepsy?
Repeated isolated seizures can increase risk of epilepsy development
What are some co-morbidities of epilepsy?
(1) Depression
(2) Anxiety
(3) Cognitive decline
(4) Agitation/ anger
(5) Suicide
(6) ADHD
(7) Reproductive problems
(8) Insomnia
(9) Migraine
What association is there between Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy?
There is an increased prevalence of seizures in patients with AD
What seizure types are there?
(1) Generalised
(2) Partial
(3) Secondary generalisation
(4) Simple/ complex
What is a generalised seizure?
Involves entire brain
Tonic-clonic/ absence seizures
What is a partial seizure?
Involves one specific area of the brain
What is a secondary generalisation seizure?
Partial seizures which can spread to affect the whole brain
What is a simple seizure?
A partial seizure
Unimpaired consciousness
What is a complex seizure?
A partial seizure
Impaired consciousness
How is a tonic-clonic seizure characterised?
Impairment of consciousness + motor activity
How is a myoclonic seizure characterised?
Impairment of motor activity ONLY
Jerking of limbs
How is an absence seizure characterised?
Brief periods of reduced awareness
Impairment of attention + consciousness
How is a partial seizure characterised?
Depends on lobe affected
Frontal/ parietal/ occipital/ temporal
What is a tonic-clonic seizure?
(1) Rigidity for approx. 1 minute
(2) Violent jerking of limbs for approx. 2-4 minutes
(3) Feelings of confusion, illness, and disorientation following recovery
