epilepsy

Question 1

what is epilepsy

Answer 1

group of conditions assosociated with reduced levels of GABA in the brain.
leads to neurons requiring less stimulation to reach threshold of passing on messages

Question 2

febrile seizure

Answer 2

occurs in children most commonly
triggered by fever above 38 degrees
tx = cool child down
NOT epilepsy

Question 3

triggers of epilepsy

Answer 3

majority idiopathic (cause unknown)
trauma - head injury
CNS disease
social elements - rarer - excessive alcohol , late nights and lack of sleep

Question 4

epileptic focus

Answer 4

point in brain where seizures begin

in generalised epilepsy - point is in centre of brain so can spread to all areas of cortex
in partial epilepsy - epileptic focus only reaches one area of cortex so whole body not affected

Question 5

partial vs generalised epilepsy

Answer 5

generalised - entire body both sides affected by seizures. Central epileptic focus
partial - only small area of brain affected. can be motor or sensory ( taste in mouth , smell , hallucinations etc)

Question 6

tonic clonic seizure

Answer 6

seizure involving tonic (stiffness) and clonic (twitching jerking) phases of muscle activity
type of generalised epilepsy
usually spontaneously stops after 1-3 mins

Question 7

petit mal seizure

Answer 7

‘absence seizure’
usually in childhood
short (5-15 secs) episodes of loss of awareness (vacant stare, eyelids flutter, stop activity)

Question 8

what should be done if a pt comes in and tells you they have epilepsy

Answer 8

assess likelihood of seizure taking place
- when was last one?
-are they compliant with medications?

Question 9

dental implication of drug phenytoin

Answer 9

anti seizure medication that can cause gingival hyperplasia

Question 10

dental implications of drug valproate

Answer 10

used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder
can cause pt to have prolonged bleeding times