Seizures Flashcards
what kind of event is a seizure?
finite event
what is a seizure a result of?
paroxysmal excessive discharge of cerebral neurons resulting in transient impairment or LOC
what are seizures caused by?
different underlying physiologic state - no single brain lesion causes them
what is epilepsy?
chronic disorder characterized by recurrent seizures
when is one diagnosed with epilepsy?
individual suffers from more than one non-febrile seizure
what can be a significant problem for epilepsy?
anxiety
what is used for management of epilepsy?
medical management
what is partial seizure syndrome characterized by?
locus of onset - temporal, frontal, parietal or occipital - focal onset
what is the most frequent and severe form of epilepsy for adults?
partial seizures
simple partial seizures: (3 characteristics)
- consciousness preserved
- unilateral hemisphere involvement
- may manifest as focal
what are the motor symptoms of simple partial seizures
jerking, twitching
what are the somatosensory symptoms of simple partial seizures
paresthesias, tingling, light flashes, buzzing, abnormal sensation of taste/smell
what are the autonomic symptoms of simple partial seizures
nausea, pallor, flushing, pupillary dilation
what are the cognitive and affective symptoms of simple partial seizures
illusions, hallucinations, sudden fear
what are complex partial seizures associated with?
alteration or LOC
what kind of involvement does complex partial seizures have?
bilateral hemispheric involvement
how do people having a complex partial seizures present?
appears dazed and confused with random walking, mumbling, head turning, or pulling at clothes