Epilepsy

Question 1

Define epilepsy

Answer 1

the recurrent tendency of spontaneous, intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain, manifesting in seizures

Question 2

Epidemiology of epilepsy

Answer 2

Common – 2% of UK population have two or more during their lives
Incidence is age-dependent

Question 3

definition of epileptic seizure

Answer 3

paroxysmal event in which changes in behaviour, sensation or cognitive process caused by excessive hypersynchronous neuronal discharges in the brain

Question 4

epileptic seizure characteristics

Answer 4

30-120 sec
positive ictal symptoms (excess)- seeing/hearing hallucinations or feeling touch
negative postictal symptoms
may occur from sleep
may be associated with other brain dysfunction (tumour/stroke)
typical seizure phenomena (deja vu, lateral tongue bite)

Question 5

History taking

Factors suggesting epilepsy

Answer 5

Tonge biting 
Eyes open
Post octal fatigue 
Head turning 
Muscle pain 
Cyanosis
Loss of consciousness >5mins

Question 6

Types of seizures

Answer 6

Generalised tonic clinic
Absence
Myoclonic, tonic and a kinetic
Partial

Question 7

Tonic clonic seizure clinical presentation

Answer 7

Sudden onset of rigid tonic phase followed by convulsions(clonic) phase
Back and forth rhythmically
Tongue biting
Incontinence
Followed by coma

Question 8

Absence seizure clinical presentation

Answer 8

Usually in childhood
Cease activity
Stares
Pale
Tend to develop into tonic clonic

Question 9

Myoclonic clinical presentation

Answer 9

Muscle jerking (Myoclonic)
Intense stiffening (tonic)
Cessation of movement
Falling and loss of consciousness

Question 10

Partial seizure clinical presentation

Answer 10

Simple(not affecting consciousness or memory)
Complex (affecting)
Symptoms depending on focus of seizure

Question 11

Tonic means

Answer 11

Loss of consciousness

Question 12

Clonic

Answer 12

Convulsions