1(E): Seizure Flashcards
Define Seizure
Irregular electrical activity in the brain due to hyper excitability of neutrons
How are seizures classified
- Aetiology
- Clinical Presentation
What are unprovoked seizures
Epileptic seizures
What can predispose to unprovoked seizures
Hypoxic-Ischaemic Injury
Genetic
What are provoked seizures
Dur to underlying cause
What are commonest cause of seizures in neonates
- Hypoxic Injury
- Metabolic
- Congenital
What are common causes of seizures in infants
- Febrile
- Infection
- TBI
What are common causes of seizures in adolescents
- Infection
- TBI
- Illicit drug-use
What are common causes of seizures in young-adults
- TBI
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Illicit drug-use
What are common causes of seizures in adults
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Stroke
- SOL
- Metabolic abnormalities
How are seizures classified
- Focal
- Generalised
- Unknown
What are focal seizures
- Occur in one hemisphere
Where do focal seizures with impaired consciousness present
- Temporal Lobe Seizure (80%)
If a seizure originates in frontal lobe what are 5 key features
- Peddling legs
- Jacksonian march
- Behavioural disturbance
- Dysphasia
If seizure originates in parietal lobe what are the features
Sensory
If seizure originates in occipital lobe what are the features
Visual
Where do focal seizures with impaired awareness arise
Temporal lobe (80%)
What is a classical feature of temporal lobe seizures before it occurs
Aura - visual, auditory or gustatory hallucinations
What are features during the seizure that are characteristic of temporal lobe seizures
- Deja Vu
- Jamais Vu
- Automatisms
- Epigastric rising
- Emotion
- Bizarre associations
- LOC
- Delusions
What is post-ictal state of temporal lobe seizures
Post-Ictal Confusion
What is an acronym to remember seizure causes
HEAD
Hallucinations
Epigastric rising, Emotion
Automatisms
Deja vu, Delusions
What are generalised seizures
Start in both hemispheres
What are four-types of absence seizures
- Atonic
- Generalised T-C
- Myoclonic
- Absence
What are absence seizures
Brief pauses for 10s
When are absence seizures more common
Childhood
Explain tonic-clonic seizures
Individual goes stiff and then jerks uncontrollably. Associated with LOC, Tongue-biting, Incontinence. Post-Ictal Confusion.
What is myoclonic seizure
Violent disobedient jerking limb or face
What are atonic seizures
Sudden loss of muscle tone
What is sheldon’s questionnaire
Used to determine if likely seizure. More than one indicates seizure, less than one indicates syncope.
What should be ordered in seizures
- FBC, Blood Culture
- U+E
- Toxicology
- ECG
- MRI
