Seizures and Disease

Question 1

What is a seizure?

Answer 1

• uncontrolled extra electrical activity in the brain causing a paroxym (sudden attack)

Question 2

What percentage of the population will have at least 1 seizure?

Answer 2

2-4%

Question 3

Causes of seizues

Answer 3

• 70% are idiopathic (cause unknown)
• genetic
• hypoxia (lack of oxygen to brain)
• infection
• TBI
• neoplasms

Question 4

What are the two types of seizures?

Answer 4

Generalized and Partial

Question 5

Generalized Seizure

Answer 5

• electrical activity is generalized in deep cortical structures and spreads throughout the brain
• approx 1/3 of seizures and seizure disorders feature generalized seizures

Question 6

Partial Seizures

Answer 6

• start in a cortical area and do not spread to others parts of the brain (localized)
• account for 2/3 of seizures

Question 7

Simple-Partial

Answer 7

NO alteration of conciousness

Question 8

Complex-Partial

Answer 8

• Alteration of Conciousness
• usually either losing conciousness or losing responsiveness

Question 9

What are seizures medically referred to as?

Answer 9

Ictus

Question 10

What are some signs of a generalized seizure?

Answer 10

• absence
• myoclonic
• clonic
• tonic
• atonic
• tonic-clonic

Question 11

Absence

Answer 11

• 5-30 seconds of unresponsiveness
• usually with complete secession of activity
• loss of awareness

Question 12

Myoclonic

Answer 12

• small rapid muscle twitches/jerks

Question 13

Clonic

Answer 13

• multiple rapid muscle jerks
• 2-3 times per second
• all over body
• for a longer person of time then myoclonic
• LoC usually seen

Question 14

Tonic VS Atonic

Answer 14

• Tonic= rapid stiffening of the body
• Atonic= complete loss of muscle tone
• lead to falling down
• inconsistent LoC

Question 15

Tonic-Clonic

Answer 15

• stiffening of body followed by clonic muscle jerks
• associated with incontinence
• followed by post-ictal sleep
• “classic” seizure
• bas prognosis ONLY if repetitive and longer thand 5 minutes

Question 16

Symptoms of Simple-Partial Seizure

Answer 16

• tactile hallucinations
• olfactory hallucinations are common and very unpleasant usually
• intense feelings
• Dysphasia or schizophasia
• sweating, hyperventialtion

Question 17

Symptoms of Complex-Patial Seizure

Answer 17

• similar symptoms to simple
• automatisms- random, purposeless movements
• individual usually doesn’t remember the seizure and is tired afterwards

Question 18

When would the partial symptoms of a seizure be called the Aura?

Answer 18

• when a partial seizure turns into a generalized

Question 19

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Answer 19

• most common form of epilepsy (60%)
• typically a simple to complex partial seizure marked by:
  
  • olfactory hallucinations
  • intense psychic sensations
  • period of altered conciousness
  • ocassionaly with tonic-clonic seizure
• usually starts in either hippocampus or temporal cortex
• most resistent to meds
• most likely to require surgery

Question 20

What deficits is Temporal Lobe Epilepsy associated with?

Answer 20

memory and attention deficits

Question 21

Status Epilepticus

Answer 21

• seizure activity lasting more than 30 minutes
• MEDICAL EMERGENCY
• 20% mortality rate
• associated with epilepsy, stroke, TBI, drug overdose or withdrawal, high fever, or poor compliance with seizure medication

Question 22

Seizure Diagnosis

Answer 22

• MRI and CT
• Go-to measures= observation and EEG
• some seizures have a specific “look” to them
• EEGs can be used to diagnose area of brain seizure, type, and differentially diagnose from things like daydreaming or ADHD

Question 23

Treatment

Answer 23

• Injection of CNS depressant (like valium)
• anti-convulsant
• LONG TERM:
  
  • anti-convulsants
  • avoiding seizure triggers
  • nerve stimulation

Question 24

Surgery for parital seizure

Answer 24

• must be sure of seizure activity area
• do wada test to make sure you won’t affect dominant brain area
• cut it out!

Question 25

Seizure for general seizure

Answer 25

* cut the corpus callosum so seizure cannot generalize to other half of the brain

Question 26

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 26

* demyelinating autoimmune disorder * inflammation of areas of the brain cause immune functions to kill cells that make myelin * prevalance= .02-1.5 % * young adults and women are more likely to develop the disorder

Question 27

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 27

* almost any neurological sign * weakness and incontinence are most common * tends to flare up then remit, with each flare up getting a bit worse

Question 28

Diagnosis of MS

Answer 28

* MS is a differential disorder * its usually diagnosed when other disorders are ruled out

Question 29

Treatment of MS

Answer 29

* uses corticosteroids to reduce inflammation * currently no cure, however he disease has a slow progression and symptoms are the issue