Seizures Flashcards
What is the cause of epileptic seizures?
Epileptogenesis - changes to brain regions and brain tissue
What factors can lead to epilepsy?
Genetics, TBI, abnormal neuronal activity and spontaneous seizures
What is the cause of syncope seizures?
Drop in blood/oxygen to the brain
What are the main differences between epilepsy and syncope seizures?
Syncope - last seconds, have arrhythmia and aren’t confused afterwards
What questionnaire can help differentiate syncope and epileptic seizures?
The Sheldon questionnaire
What are the diagnostic signs of epilepsy?
At least two unprovoked seizures under 24 hours apart, or one seizure, but have had a stroke or have typical epilepsy EEG, or certain diagnostic symptoms
What are generalized seizures?
Affect both sides of the brain
What are focal seizures?
Affect one hemisphere of the brain
What are combined seizures?
Both generalized and focal seizures
What are the three parts of ‘classifying individual seizures’?
Seizure types, epilepsy types and epilepsy syndromes
What are the symptoms of simple focal seizures?
Stiffness/jerking movements, unusual taste or smell, awake and awareness
What are the main symptoms of complex focal seizures?
Rubbing hands, smacking lips, moving arms around, no response during seizure, no memory of seizure,
What are the main symptoms of tonic clonic seizures?
Tonic stage - go stiff, loss of consciousness
Clonic stage - jerking limbs, incontinence
Confusion and tiredness
What are the main symptoms of absent seizures?
Staring blankly, jerky movements, mainly affects children, lasts up to 15 seconds and don’t remember them afterwards
What is the first line treatment for focal seizures?
Lamotrigine and Levetiracetam
