Seizures Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is a seizure
A sudden surge in electrical activity in the brain which can change behaviour, movement and levels of consciousness
What is epilepsy
Chronic seizures
What is a non epileptic psychogenic seizure
An event that looks like a seizure but is NOT caused by electrical activity int eh brain
psychogenic in nature
What can seizure be caused by
- Unknown cause
- Genetics
- Structural changes
- Structural abnormalities
- Autism
- Provoked seizure
What are secure with no known cause called
Idiopathic
How common are idiopathic seizures
Account for 6 out of 10 seizures
what structural changes may cause seizures
- Head injury
- Infection
- Stroke
Are structural changes leading to seizures permanent
They can be an isolated seizure or more chronic leading to epilepsy diagnosis
wHat do we mean by structural abnormalities leading to seizures
A congenital brain defect that may cause seizures
What can provoke a seizure
- Drugs
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Imbalances such as hypoglycaemia or hypoxia
How may different types of seizures are there
40
Name the 2 main groups seizures fall under
- Focal seizures
2. Generalised seizures
When do focal seizures occir
When seizure activity is limited to one part of a single Brian hemisphere
How are focal seizures grouped
According to whether awareness is retained or lost during seizure activity
When do generalised seizures occur
When there is widespread seizure activity in both brain hemispheres
Name the most common generalised seizure
Tonic clonic seizure
Talk through the stages of tonic clonic seizures
- Warning (prodrome)
- Stiffness (tonic)
- Shaking (clonic)
- Drowsy (post ictal)
What can happen in the warning stage of a tonic clonic seizure
A wide range of symptoms specific to the individual may occur ranging from feeling irritable to sensory hallucinations
How long does the warning stage of a tonic clonic seizure last
brief to hours
What can happen in the warning stage of a tonic stiffness seizure
Muscles become rigid including respiratory muscles resulting in short period of apnoea
Grunting noises may occur as air is forced from the lungs
How long does the stiffness stage of a tonic clonic seizure last
1 minute
What can happen in the warning stage of a tonic shaking seizure
Widespread disco-ordinated muscle movement and in some cases incontinence
How long does the stiffness stage of a tonic clonic seizure last
1-3 minutes
What can happen in the drowsy stage of a tonic shaking seizure
A period of drowsiness and/or confusion following the termination of seizure activity
