Epilepsy and Seizures Flashcards
what is a seizure?
a short episode of symptoms causeed by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain
what is epilepsy?
ongoing liability to recurrent seizures
seizures can either be…
focal or generalized
what is a focal seizure?
electrical activity in one part of the brain
what is a generalised seizure?
electrical activity is in all parts of the brain
what is one important thing that can differentiate focal seizure to generalised seizure?
awareness
focal seizures can sometimes progress to?
secondary generalised seizures
some patients may develop ——– before a seizure?
aura
auras can include?
changes in small, vision and taste
what signs can be seen in a frontal lobe simple focal seizure?
motor signs: stiffnesss, twitching or spasm
what is a jacksonian march?
focal aware seizure spreads from the distal part of the limb towards the ipsilateral face
what signs can be seen in a parietal lobe simple focal seizure?
sensory manifestations can take the form of tingling or numbness or pain
what signs can be seen in occipital lobe simple focal siezures?
visual phenomena such as flashing lights, coloutss or hallucinations
what signs can be seen in temporal lobe simple focal seizures?
changes in mood or behaviors
what sensation in common in temporal lobe simple focal seizures?
rising epigastric sensation
what is a focal impaired awareness seizure or (complex focal seizure)?
patient is not aware of surrounding or what they are doing
majority cases of complex focal seizures arise from?
temporal lobe
what is the most common cause of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy?
hippocampal sclerosis
what is hippocampal sclerosis associated with?
complex partial seizures
what are three distinct components of partial seizures?
the aura, the loss of consciousness and repetitive stereotyped movements
what are examlples of automatism?
lip smacking, chewing, fiddling, walking, whistling
what is post-ictal confusion?
post seizure confusion
what is an absence seizure?
abrupt sudden loss of consciousness and of all motor activity rapidly stopped. Tone preserved and there is no fall
how long are absence seizures?
10 seconds or less
when do absence seizures usually develop?
childhood or adolesence
what is the characteristic EEG spike for absence seizures?
3Hz
how do absence seizures end?
as abruptly as started and previous activity is resumed as if nothing had happened with no post ictal confusion
what are myoclonic seizures?
bried contraction of a muscle, muscle group or several muscle groups resulting in a small twitch or seveere jerk
what is a subtype of idiopathic generalized epilepsy?
juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
what is characteristic of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?
brief myoclonic jerks usually occuring in the first hour or so after awakening. Sudden, shock-like
which part of the body do jerks usually affect the body in juvenile myoclonic epilapsy?
shoulders and arms
which ages do JME usually affect?
12 and 18 years
in JME generalised tonic-clonic seizures also occur
usually months or years after the onset of myoclonus
in JME complete response to treatment can be expeected in?
80-90% but lifelong therapy may be needed
what is a clonic seizure?
whe the individual’s muscles begin to spasm and jerk. Elbows, legs and head will flex ad relax rapidly
Whoa re clonic seizures most frequently seen in?
neonates and young children
what is a tonic seizure?
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
what is the most common form of generalised seizures?
tonic clonic
what is a tonic clonic seizure?
patiently quickly loses consciousnesss and skeletal muscles become stiff and a clonic phase in which the muscles wills tart to contract and relax rapidly
what are important things to note about tonic-clonic seizures?
tongue might be bitten from strong jaw contractions there may be cyanosis and incontinence
