EPILEPSY

epilepsy

An introduction to the symptoms numbers and treatment

Introduction

Diagnosis

Symptoms

Numbers

Treatment

Introduction

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviors or sensations, and sometimes loss of consciousness.Anyone can develop epilepsy. Epilepsy affects both men and women of all races, ethnicities, and ages.

Diagnosis

• ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM: One of the most used ways to detect early epilepsy, consists of placing electrodes on the hair to record brain electrical activity.
• Video EEG
• Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Detects if there are brain lesions that may cause the patient's seizures.
• Ictal single photon emission tomography (SPECT). It consists of the injection of an isotope during a crisis. This is fixed to the neurons that are discharging and allows to obtain an image of the area of ​​initiation and propagation of the seizures. It is a test that is done during the video EEG in admission regime.
• Positron emission tomography (PET). It is a test that uses a small amount of radioactive material in low doses that is injected into a vein and that helps to identify areas of low glucose consumption, which are related to the areas of onset of seizures.
• Neuropsychological study. It reveals cognitive functions (for example memory or language) that can deteriorate in certain types of epilepsy. It also makes it possible to predict possible sequelae after epilepsy surgery.

Symptons

Most common symptons

Because epilepsy occurs because of abnormal brain activity, seizures can affect whatever processes the brain coordinates. Some of the signs and symptoms of seizures are:

• Temporary confusion
• Episodes of absences
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Loss of consciousness or consciousness
• Psychic symptoms, such as fear, anxiety, or déjà vu

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure with each episode, so symptoms will be similar from episode to episode.

NUMBERS

70%

500000

Could live without convulsion if they were treated

There are aproximately 500000 people diagnosed with epilepsy in Spain. 22000 new ones each year.

50%

Of new diasnostig are kids and teens with less than 15 years

TREATMENTS

Anticonvulsant medication

Finding the correct medication and dosage can be complex. Your doctor will consider the disease, seizure frequency, your age, and other factors when choosing which medication to prescribe. They will also review any other medications you may be taking to ensure that antiepileptic medications do not interact with them. Anti-seizure medications can have some side effects.

Most people can break free from seizures

Less often they just reduce the frecuence

Other treatments

Surgery

Therapies

When medications do not provide adequate seizure control, surgery may be an option. In epilepsy surgery, the surgeon removes the part of the brain that causes the seizures.

During vagus nerve stimulation, doctors implant a device called a “vagus nerve stimulator” under the skin of the chest, similar to a pacemaker. The stimulator leads are connected to the vagus nerve in the neck.