Ailments and Situations - Epilepsy - Causes and What to Expect

Causes:

Epileptic seizures are induced by abnormal, synchronous electrical discharges from millions of neurons in the cerebral cortex of the brain. Most epilepsy is of unknown cause, it may sometimes be associated with cerebral trauma, intracranial infection, brain tumor, vascular disturbances, intoxication, or chemical imbalance.

The frequency of attacks may range from many times a day to intervals of several years, in people who are predisposed, seizures may be triggered by the light, noise, smell, emotional disturbances, or they can come without any stimulant. Most epileptic attacks are short in duration and are often followed by drowsiness and confusion.

Epilepsy almost never affects intelligence. Diagnosis is made by observation of the pattern of seizures and abnormalities on an electroencephalogram.

There are two different types of seizures:

1) partial seizures, seizures that begin focally, then spread to other brain area;

2) generalized seizures which begin deep in the brain and impair consciousness.

What to Expect:

During an attack the person should be protected from injury without being severely strained.