L26: Epilepsy Flashcards
what is a seizure
an abnormal paroxysmal discharge of cerebral neurons causing clinically detectable changes
how do you get a diagnosis of epilepsy
2 unprovoked seizures within the span of 12 months
2 types of seizures
generalised
focal
what is the main feature of a generalised seizure
complete loss of consciousness
what is a focal seizure
not losing consciousness but losing awareness
describe an epileptic seizure (4)
- brief
- stereotypical (all one persons are the same)
- multiple
- not situational
5 features of the frontal lobe
- intellectual function
- inhibition
- bladder continence
- saccadic eye movement
- motor
differential diagnosis of a parietal lobe seizure
TIA
migraine
parietal lobe seizures=
positive sensory disturbance/ paraesthesia
what doesn’t happen in a TIA/ migraine
don’t lose consciousness
5 features of temporal lobe
- memory
- smell
- hearing
- emotion
- vestibular
what can happen in a temporal lobe seizure
aura- epigastric, smell, taste, deja vu, fear
- motionless stare
- automatism
what is automatism
lip smacking, fidgeting, fumbling
what happens in the occipital lobe
vision
occipital seizures=
unformed, circular, multicoloured, confined to hemifield
main differential diagnosis of occipital lobe seizure
migraine (vision)
what is syncope
sudden impairment in consciousness with loss of postural tone
differential diagnosis for temporal lobe epilepsy
panic attacks
triggers for seizures (5)
- lack of sleep
- stress
- medications
- hormonal changes
- drugs
investigations for seizure (3)
Bloods
EEG
CT/MRI
treatment of epilepsy (6)
sodium valproate lamotrigine levetiracetam topiramate Phenobarbitone Ethosuximide
what is a generalised seizure
bilateral tonic clonic
what is status epilepticus
active part of a tonic clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
