Epilepsy and Seizures

Question 1

what is a seizure?

Answer 1

a short episode of symptoms causeed by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain

Question 2

what is epilepsy?

Answer 2

ongoing liability to recurrent seizures

Question 3

seizures can either be…

Answer 3

focal or generalized

Question 4

what is a focal seizure?

Answer 4

electrical activity in one part of the brain

Question 5

what is a generalised seizure?

Answer 5

electrical activity is in all parts of the brain

Question 6

what is one important thing that can differentiate focal seizure to generalised seizure?

Answer 6

awareness

Question 7

focal seizures can sometimes progress to?

Answer 7

secondary generalised seizures

Question 8

some patients may develop ——– before a seizure?

Answer 8

aura

Question 9

auras can include?

Answer 9

changes in small, vision and taste

Question 10

what signs can be seen in a frontal lobe simple focal seizure?

Answer 10

motor signs: stiffnesss, twitching or spasm

Question 11

what is a jacksonian march?

Answer 11

focal aware seizure spreads from the distal part of the limb towards the ipsilateral face

Question 12

what signs can be seen in a parietal lobe simple focal seizure?

Answer 12

sensory manifestations can take the form of tingling or numbness or pain

Question 13

what signs can be seen in occipital lobe simple focal siezures?

Answer 13

visual phenomena such as flashing lights, coloutss or hallucinations

Question 14

what signs can be seen in temporal lobe simple focal seizures?

Answer 14

changes in mood or behaviors

Question 15

what sensation in common in temporal lobe simple focal seizures?

Answer 15

rising epigastric sensation

Question 16

what is a focal impaired awareness seizure or (complex focal seizure)?

Answer 16

patient is not aware of surrounding or what they are doing

Question 17

majority cases of complex focal seizures arise from?

Answer 17

temporal lobe

Question 18

what is the most common cause of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy?

Answer 18

hippocampal sclerosis

Question 19

what is hippocampal sclerosis associated with?

Answer 19

complex partial seizures

Question 20

what are three distinct components of partial seizures?

Answer 20

the aura, the loss of consciousness and repetitive stereotyped movements

Question 21

what are examlples of automatism?

Answer 21

lip smacking, chewing, fiddling, walking, whistling

Question 22

what is post-ictal confusion?

Answer 22

post seizure confusion

Question 23

what is an absence seizure?

Answer 23

abrupt sudden loss of consciousness and of all motor activity rapidly stopped. Tone preserved and there is no fall

Question 24

how long are absence seizures?

Answer 24

10 seconds or less

Question 25

when do absence seizures usually develop?

Answer 25

childhood or adolesence

Question 26

what is the characteristic EEG spike for absence seizures?

Answer 26

3Hz

Question 27

how do absence seizures end?

Answer 27

as abruptly as started and previous activity is resumed as if nothing had happened with no post ictal confusion

Question 28

what are myoclonic seizures?

Answer 28

bried contraction of a muscle, muscle group or several muscle groups resulting in a small twitch or seveere jerk

Question 29

what is a subtype of idiopathic generalized epilepsy?

Answer 29

juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Question 30

what is characteristic of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?

Answer 30

brief myoclonic jerks usually occuring in the first hour or so after awakening. Sudden, shock-like

Question 31

which part of the body do jerks usually affect the body in juvenile myoclonic epilapsy?

Answer 31

shoulders and arms

Question 32

which ages do JME usually affect?

Answer 32

12 and 18 years

Question 33

in JME generalised tonic-clonic seizures also occur

Answer 33

usually months or years after the onset of myoclonus

Question 34

in JME complete response to treatment can be expeected in?

Answer 34

80-90% but lifelong therapy may be needed

Question 35

what is a clonic seizure?

Answer 35

whe the individual's muscles begin to spasm and jerk. Elbows, legs and head will flex ad relax rapidly

Question 36

Whoa re clonic seizures most frequently seen in?

Answer 36

neonates and young children

Question 37

what is a tonic seizure?

Answer 37

brief loss of consciousness, patient falls to the ground and often there is extension of the neck with upturing of the eyes and arching of the back

Question 38

what is the most common form of generalised seizures?

Answer 38

tonic clonic

Question 39

what is a tonic clonic seizure?

Answer 39

patiently quickly loses consciousnesss and skeletal muscles become stiff and a clonic phase in which the muscles wills tart to contract and relax rapidly

Question 40

what are important things to note about tonic-clonic seizures?

Answer 40

tongue might be bitten from strong jaw contractions there may be cyanosis and incontinence