Epilepsy

Question 1

What is epilepsy?

Answer 1

Unusual electrical activity in the brain, causing seizures.

Synchronised and excessive activation of neurons in the cerebral cortex.

Diagnoaed by two or more unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart

Question 2

What are the other causes of seizures?

Answer 2

Hypoglycemia
Drug or alcohol abuse
Pyrexia
Head injury
Eclampsia
Non Epileptic Attack Disorder

Question 3

Types of seizure

Answer 3

Partial (focal) - specific part of brain and body
- simple partial (remains conscious, usually brief, may
experience illusions or hallucinations)
- complex partial (chewing, lip smacking, fiddling, altered
consciousness, usually brief).
Generalised -
-Tonic (stiff), clonic (jerking)
-Absence seizures - daydreaming, eye fluttering, swallowing, head
flopping
Febrile - six months to six years, sudden increase in temperature
Eclampsia

Question 4

Signs and symptoms of seizures

Answer 4

Depends on type.

Question 5

Management of seizures

Answer 5

Clear space
Oxygen asap
Diazepam
ABCDE
Step wise airway
Titrate oxygen when sats are obtained, except for children

Question 6

Epilepsy medications

Answer 6

Magnesium sulphate

Question 7

What is Non Epileptic Attack Disorder?

Answer 7

They can happen when the brain cannot process things like stress, thoughts, emotions, memories. Often referred to as pseudo seizures or dissociative seizures.

Question 8

What is status epilepticus?

Answer 8

A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or repeated seizing for 30 minutes without regaining consciousness.