Week 5: Seizures and Epilepsy

Question 1

What are the causes of epilepsy?

Answer 1

-shift of normal balance of excitation and inhibition within the CNS
Any brain capable of having a seizure:
-stress
-child with fever 
-genetic predisposition 
-penetrating head injury (45% in. risk)
-stroke 
-toxic substances

Question 2

How to handle a post seizure:

Answer 2

Patients may come in with sore joints and muscles from post seizures.
what to do:
-take temp and vital signs- drug toxicity and infection
-is it the first seizure they ever had - need to be examined by MD for underlying conditions
-if paroxysmal (recurring) ask about any changes in precipitating factors
-If >15 min seizure call emergency services
-cardiorespiratory dysfunction, hyperthermia, metabolic issues- all lead to irreversible damage
-important patients are getting the medications they may need.

Question 3

View the types of seizures on the table and learn them

Answer 3

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