seizures Flashcards
(13 cards)
define seizure
“A sudden alteration of behavior due to a temporary change in the electrical functioning of the brain” – American Association of Neurological Surgeons
pathomechanism of seizure
- Whether the brain is more excited or less inhibited can increase chances of a seizure happening.
- The area of the brain affected by this abnormal activity will usually dictate the type of symptoms a person shows during seizure.
prevalence/incidence of epilepsy
- lower prevalence of epilepsy in high income countries
- highest in younger and older age groups
- most common cause of seizures and epilepsy in older people is cerebrovascular disease
etiology pf epilepsy
- genes
- provoked seizures
- unprovoked causes of seizures
- electrolyte disturbances
- acute toxic effects
- withdrawal syndromes
- irregularity with prescribed antiepileptic medications
- sepsis
- CNS infections
- hypoxic brain injury
- TBI
- stroke
- neoplasm
- inflammatory
- fever
- sleep deprivation
risk factors of seizure
seizure triggers
- stress
- drinking alcohol or alcohol withdrawal
- dehydration or missing meals
- exposure to toxins or poisons
- hormonal changes
- sleep deprivation
- visual stimulation (flashing lights or moving patters)
risk factor
- twice as likely to have another seizure if their is a known brain injury or abnormality
- some people who have one seizure without a clear cause will have another one, usually within 6 months
types of seizures
- generalied seizures (generalized onset seizures)
- focal seizures (focal onset seizures)
- unknown onset
describing seizures
- tonic
- atonic
- myoclonic
- clonic
types of generalized motor seizures
- atonic seizures
- tonic-clonic seizures
- secondary generalized seizures
types of generalized non-motor seizures
- typical absence seizures
- atypical absence seizures
- eye myoclonia
types of focal seizures
- focal onset aware
- focal impaired awareness
- focal onset awareness unknown
signs and symptoms of seizures
- (not all) lost of consciousness, most requiring acute medical care (impaired awareness and responsiveness
- transient loss of consciousness
assessment in seizures
- sheldon questionnaire
- electroencephalogram (EEG)
- MRI
- CT-scan
-SEEG - PET scan
- SPECT
- MEG
management in seizure
- medication
- diet therapy
- surgery
