What is epilepsy? This is a disease that many associate with seizures, convulsions and other unpleasant symptoms. But in fact, everything is not so. Very often, the pathology is different, so not always an ignorant person can identify it and provide timely assistance.
Definition of concept
Epilepsy is a chronic pathology or disorder characterized by disorders in the brain. It is possible to determine the disease only after a thorough examination. As for treatment, it is mandatory. If therapy is excluded, then this pathological condition can worsen significantly.
The only dominant symptom of epilepsy is a recurring seizure. There may also be disturbances in motor function, sensitivity, thought and mental processes. If this condition has been noted in a patient, then he needs urgent professional help. Often there is not only congenital, but also acquired epilepsy.
It should be understood that manydiseases and disorders of the brain are accompanied by convulsions and seizures, which have nothing to do with this deviation. Therefore, you do not need to engage in self-therapy without knowing the exact diagnosis. Epilepsy is equally common in both children and adults.
Types of pathology
The classification adopted in medicine helps to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe therapy. Epilepsy is of the following types:
- Idiopathic and symptomatic. There are primary and secondary epilepsy. The first type is accompanied by a deviation, the reasons for which have not been established. Pathology is considered congenital. This pathology is divided into latent and genuin epilepsy. The secondary or acquired form occurs as a result of previous diseases or injuries.
- Depending on the site of the lesion - the cerebellum, trunk, left or right hemisphere.
- Depending on epileptic seizures and convulsions.
- There is a disease with partial seizures. This condition is characterized by a complete loss of control over the body, while the mind is unclear. The disease is diagnosed in those patients who have a deep brain lesion. This type of seizure comes in several categories.
Also, the disease can be divided into types, depending on the causes of seizures, for example, a photosensitive form of epilepsy.
Epilepsy - Causes
This disease is considered quite dangerous. With this diagnosis, therapypreventive measures are vital. Epilepsy occurs for various reasons, it all depends on the type of disease. There are times when the precipitating factor cannot be identified.
In modern medicine, the following groups of provoking factors are distinguished:
- Idiopathic epilepsy. Refers to hereditary pathology. In this situation, there are no organic damages, but a specific reaction of neuronal cells is noted. Epilepsy in a person of this type is intermittent, seizures occur for no reason.
- Epilepsy symptomatic type. It always has a cause: trauma, cyst, tumor, intoxication. It is considered the most predictable type of pathology, since an epileptic seizure can develop as a result of a minor stimulus.
- Cryptogenic form of the disease. The reason for the development of this type has not yet been established. A seizure can occur in a patient as a result of a minor stimulus. Accompanied by severe symptoms, requires immediate assistance.
Signs of the disease appear in any group of pathology, regardless of the age category of the patient.
What happens during seizures
What is epilepsy and what is its pathogenesis? During the course of this chronic disease, changes in the neural activity of the brain are noted, which can be not only excessive, but also periodic. It depends on the influence of pathological factors. Depolarization of neurons occurs in the brain, characterized by suddennessand expressiveness. It may be local. Seizures in this case are partial or generalized type.
Also, with epilepsy in adults, a specialist may notice disturbances in the processes of thalamocortical interaction. At the same time, there is an increased sensitivity of cortical type neurons. Seizures occur on the basis of excessive release of aspartate and glutamate. In parallel, there may be a lack of inhibitory neurotransmitters, especially gamma-aminobutyric acid.
In the course of research, it was found that deceased patients suffering from epilepsy had changes in the dystrophic type of ganglion cells, as well as other disorders and abnormalities that occurred in the brain. With this pathology, there may be an increase in dendrites and neurofibril. These changes are diagnosed in different parts of the brain. They can be associated with various injuries, as well as past infectious diseases. All of the listed violations are not specific.
Reasons
In most cases, after a thorough examination of the patient, it is possible to identify the provoking factor of an epileptic attack.
Why does epilepsy occur?
- Acquired or symptomatic form of the disease occurs as a result of a brain injury. Such epilepsy is also diagnosed with concussions, bruises, childbirth and complications during them, impaired intrauterine development and oxygen starvation of the fetus.
- Regular use of drugs and alcohol.
- Past infectious diseases that were accompanied by complications.
- Death and pathologies of the central nervous system: meningitis, encephalitis.
- Stroke, some diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Side effects of certain drug groups.
- Neoplasms in the brain.
Only a specialist can determine what exactly provoked the onset of epilepsy.
Main symptoms of the disease
As mentioned earlier, this chronic pathology is characterized by a convulsive seizure. In most cases, it starts unexpectedly. It happens that there are signs that indicate the imminent onset of such a state.
Warning symptoms:
- General malaise.
- Disturbed appetite.
- Insomnia.
- Headache.
- Excessive irritability.
It is also worth noting that most patients have a certain aura before an attack, which can last for several seconds. After it, the patient loses consciousness. At the same time, a spasm begins, which is accompanied by a strong tension of muscle tissue throughout the body, the limbs are extended, and the head is thrown back. Breathing becomes disturbed, the cervical veins swell. The face during the attack becomes pale, and the jaws are strongly compressed. This phase is referred to as the tonic phase and lasts about 30 seconds.
Then comes clonic convulsions. They are characterized by jerky contractions of the muscle tissue of the entire body, including the limbs and cervical region. In this phase, the seizure lasts for 3-3.5 minutes. At the same time, breathing becomes hoarse, there are noises, an accumulation of saliva is observed, and the tongue may sink.
In some patients, during an epileptic seizure, there is a release of foam, sometimes with blood impurities. Gradually, the attack subsides, and the muscles begin to relax. During this period, the patient does not respond to stimuli, the pupils are dilated, there is no reaction to light. Involuntary urination may occur.
For each type of epilepsy, the causes and symptoms are similar to each other, but they also have characteristic differences that are recommended to be taken into account when making a diagnosis.
Symptoms of the disease in children
This pathology can also occur in a newborn baby and young children. In infants, this condition is observed as a result of injuries received during the birth process, as well as due to oxygen starvation in the womb. In children, epilepsy can be diagnosed as a hereditary or acquired disease. With the right approach, it is treatable.
What is epilepsy in infants? This is a disorder that is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Fever.
- Cramps in the body and limbs, which can move from one side to the other.
- Mind problems appear.
- Characteristic weakness in the right or left sidebody, which can be diagnosed within a few days.
In infants, there is no foaming from the mouth, as well as biting the tongue, cheeks. There is also no involuntary emission of urine.
In infants, the precursors of epilepsy are the following signs:
- General irritability.
- Cephalgia.
- Appetite problems.
Epilepsy in children has a number of features. This pathology is much more common in children than in adults. Very often, not every seizure that occurs is equated to an epileptic seizure, so parents should be careful and monitor the child's behavior.
What is epilepsy in babies? This is a condition with the following symptoms:
- Rhythmic contractions of muscle tissue throughout the body.
- Impaired breathing, its delay.
- Involuntary emission of urine and feces.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Tension of muscle tissue throughout the body, while the lower limbs straighten and the upper limbs bend.
- Twitching limbs.
- Pushing lips together, throwing back the eyeball.
- Twitching head to one side.
Many types of pathology in children and adolescents cannot be immediately recognized, as there are no usual symptoms.
First aid for epilepsy
If a person has an attack, it is urgent to provide him with first aid and call specialists, reporting on the general condition of the patient and the duration of this condition. First of all you need:
- Forcibly do not try to restrain convulsions and involuntary movements. Such actions can harm the patient.
- It is not recommended to open the teeth and insert anything between them.
- CPR or chest compressions should not be given.
- During an attack, the patient should be laid on a flat surface, put something under his head.
- It is not necessary to transfer the patient from the place where the seizure occurred. This is only allowed if the terrain is considered life-threatening, such as a roadway.
- A person needs to turn their head to one side. This will help prevent the tongue from slipping and saliva entering the airways. If the patient is experiencing vomiting, it is recommended to turn the torso completely to one side.
After the attack is over, the patient should be given rest. After a seizure, people with epilepsy very often have confusion and increased weakness of the whole body. In most cases, after half an hour, a person is able to get up and move around on their own.
The danger is the seizures following one after another in a short period of time. This condition is referred to as status epilepticus. It can be fatal as the patient stops breathing. In such a situation, urgent professional help is needed.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis of this chronic pathology is carried out carefully. First of all, an anamnesis is taken. It is necessary to correctly establish the provoking factor of epilepsy, pay attentionsymptoms. The specialist must study the fact how the seizures go, what are its consequences.
The following types of examinations are assigned to the patient:
- Magnetic resonance imaging. Helps to detect or exclude the presence of neoplasms and other diseases of the central nervous system, as well as anomalies in the development of the brain.
- Electroencephalography. It is carried out during the entire period of the disease. EEG. Helps to track the positive result of treatment, identify deterioration, determine the activity of foci.
- Positron emission tomography. It helps to determine the state of the brain, as well as to predict how the disease will proceed.
Treatment for epilepsy is based on the results of the study. Therapy must be followed with all rigor in order to improve the life of the patient and alleviate his condition. It is recommended to begin treatment only after a second seizure, when it is definitely established that the patient has epilepsy.
The patient is prescribed antiepileptic drugs, depending on the form of the pathology and the nature of the attack. Reception of drugs begins with a small dosage, which gradually increases. The condition should be constantly monitored by a specialist in order to adjust the therapy in a timely manner. If one of the drugs is not effective, it is replaced with another, stronger one.
Funds may be discontinued after 2-5 years of complete absence of seizures and overt symptoms. To the most prescribed drugs for epilepsyinclude:
- "Nitrazepam".
- "Primidon".
- "Diazepam".
- "Phenytoin".
- "Luminal".
- "Gluferal".
- "Depakin Chrono".
- "Ethosuximide".
- "Vigabatrin".
Can I take other drugs for epilepsy? This is decided solely by the specialist who observes the patient. Everything will depend on the type and purpose of the medicine.
Acceptance of most drugs can be accompanied by side effects. Diazepam and Midazolam are used to treat almost all forms of status epilepticus. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor, depending on the neglect of the situation.
Treatment of epilepsy in babies is based on the relief of seizures and the elimination of provoking factors. The child may be prescribed an anticonvulsant drug, which depends on the type of pathology. Anticonsultants are prescribed if more than 2-3 seizures have been observed. If the therapy was chosen correctly, then it can lead to a complete recovery. The dose for children is small at first, gradually increasing until the effect is noticeable.
Complications and prevention of epilepsy
This pathology in most cases can lead to various deviations. These include such a violation as status epilepticus. This condition is characterized by an attack, the duration of which is 30-35 minutes, or seizures occur in the patient one after another. However, for a long timecannot come to his senses, his consciousness is blurred. If the disease is diagnosed in a patient for a long time, and the treatment is of poor quality or is completely absent, then epileptic encephalopathy develops.
People with epilepsy as a treatment and prevention are often prescribed physiotherapy exercises, which can normalize the processes of excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex. Rhythmic movements and breathing exercises have a positive effect on nerve cells. They also act as stress prevention.
The main preventive measures include the exclusion of the following situations:
- Various head injuries.
- Intoxication of the body with narcotic substances, tobacco, alcoholic beverages and other harmful components.
- Infectious diseases.
It is also worth giving up on a marriage between two people with epilepsy. You do not need to stay in a poorly ventilated room for a long time and freeze. It is recommended to prevent the state of fever in a timely manner, especially in children. Experts advise to lead a he althy lifestyle, eat right, strengthen the immune system, properly dose physical activity, constantly walk, observe sleep and wakefulness.
