Epileptiform syndrome is a symptom complex, which is expressed in episodic attacks of convulsions and uncontrolled movements. The seizure is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being and a disorder of consciousness. Such manifestations often occur in children. This condition in a child is very scary for parents. However, episyndrome has nothing to do with epilepsy. This condition lends itself well to correction and therapy.
What is this
Epileptiform syndrome (episindrome) is the general name for seizures that can be triggered by brain disorders. Such a deviation is not a separate disease, it is just one of the manifestations of various pathologies.
When episyndrome seizures occur suddenly and just as suddenly stop. They appear as a reaction of the central nervous system to stimuli. At the same time, a focus of overexcitation is formed in the brain.
Seizures disappear forever after the cure of the underlying pathology. If this violation arose in childhood, then it does not affect the mental and physical development of the child.
Different from epilepsy
It is very important to differentiate epileptiform syndrome from epilepsy. These are two different pathologies with similar symptoms. Doctors distinguish the following main differences between these two diseases:
- Episyndrome is one of the manifestations of other diseases of the central nervous system. Epilepsy is a separate pathology that occurs in a chronic form.
- Various diseases can provoke the appearance of episyndrome. The cause of epilepsy in most cases is a hereditary predisposition to this pathology.
- When episyndrome attacks occur sporadically. Epileptic seizures can disturb the patient throughout life. In the absence of systematic therapy, seizures appear very often.
- Episyndrome is uncharacteristic of tongue biting and involuntary urination during an attack. These signs are characteristic of epilepsy.
- Before a true epileptic seizure, the patient experiences an aura state. These are the symptoms that precede the occurrence of seizures. Before the onset of an attack, the patient develops discomfort in the body, numbness of the extremities, dizziness, visual disturbances, and a change in the perception of smells. With an episyndrome, a seizure always begins unexpectedly, without predecessors.
The first signs of epilepsy in 70%cases appear in childhood. With a long course of pathology, the patient develops mental disorders. Epileptics are characterized by frequent mood swings, depression, memory and cognitive impairment. Episyndrome can develop in both children and adults. It is not accompanied by mental disorders.
Etiology
The causes of epileptiform syndrome in adults and children are somewhat different. This pathology in a child is most often congenital. It is caused by various adverse factors affecting the fetus during the prenatal period:
- infectious diseases in the mother during pregnancy;
- fetal hypoxia;
- birth injury.
In rare cases, children have acquired episyndrome. A convulsive attack can occur against a background of high temperature (more than +40 degrees) or with a lack of microelements (potassium, sodium) in the body.
In adults, episyndrome is most often acquired. It can be provoked by the following pathologies:
- brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis);
- cranial injury;
- demyelinating pathologies (multiple sclerosis, etc.);
- brain tumors;
- hemorrhagic stroke;
- impaired parathyroid function;
- profuse blood loss;
- heavy metal poisoning and sedative drugs;
- hypoxia due to drowning or suffocation.
Often, seizures occur in people who abuse alcohol. Episyndrome developsnot only in chronic alcoholics. Sometimes drinking too much alcohol once is enough to cause a seizure.
ICD code
The International Classification of Diseases treats episyndrome as symptomatic epilepsy. This pathology is included in the group of diseases accompanied by seizures. They appear under the code G40. The full code for the epileptiform syndrome according to ICD-10 is G40.2.
Symptomatics
This pathology can occur with a variety of symptoms. Manifestations of the epileptiform syndrome depend on the location of the brain lesion. If the focus of excitation occurs in the frontal lobes, then the following symptoms appear during an attack:
- stretching arms and legs;
- sharp muscle tension throughout the body;
- painful spasm of masticatory and mimic muscles;
- rolling eyes;
- drooling from mouth.
If the affected area is located in the temporal part of the brain, then the following manifestations are characteristic:
- confusion;
- irritability or high spirits;
- abdominal pain;
- fever;
- nausea and vomiting;
- auditory and visual hallucinations.
For the defeat of the parietal part, predominantly neurological symptoms are characteristic:
- numbness of limbs;
- dyscoordination;
- severe dizziness;
- fixation of gaze at one point;
- loss of spatial orientation;
- faint.
At any localization of the focus of excitation, an attack is accompanied by a violation of consciousness. After the seizure ends, the patient does not remember anything and cannot talk about his condition.
Quite often, such seizures are isolated. If seizures occur systematically, then doctors diagnose status epilepticus.
Features of episyndrome in childhood
Epileptiform syndrome in children under the age of 1 year occurs with pronounced symptoms. This is due to the fact that in infants the central nervous system is not yet fully formed. An attack in infants is accompanied by the following manifestations:
- At the beginning of the seizure, there is a strong contraction of the muscles of the whole body. Breathing stops.
- Child presses hands tightly to chest.
- Baby's fontanelle bulges.
- The muscles are sharply tense, and the lower limbs are extended.
- Baby throws head back or makes rhythmic nods.
- Quite often an attack is accompanied by vomiting and foaming from the mouth.
Epileptiform syndrome at an older age is accompanied by facial convulsions, which then pass to the whole body. Children over 2 years of age may suddenly wake up and walk around the room unconscious. At the same time, they have no reaction to any stimuli.
Diagnosis
Episyndrome needs to be distinguished from true epilepsy. Therefore it is very importantconduct an accurate differential diagnosis.
Patients are prescribed an MRI of the brain. This examination helps to identify the etiology of the epileptiform syndrome. Gliosis in the image indicates damage to neurons due to trauma or stroke. Doctors call gliosis changes the growth of auxiliary brain cells. This is usually noted after the death of neurons.
An important method of differential diagnosis is an electroencephalogram. With episyndrome, the EEG may not show pathological changes. After all, foci of excitation in the brain appear only before an attack. In epilepsy, the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex is constantly increased.
Therapy Methods
Episyndrome disappears only after its cause is eliminated. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo a course of therapy for the underlying disease. At the same time, symptomatic treatment of epileptiform syndrome is carried out. The following groups of drugs are prescribed:
- Anticonvulsant drugs: Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Depakine, Convulex. These drugs stop seizures and reduce the frequency of seizures.
- Sedative drugs: Phenibut, Phenazepam, Elenium, Atarax. These drugs calm the focus of excitation in the brain and relax the muscles.
As an additional treatmentusing phytotherapy. Patients are advised to take decoctions of violet, linden, tansy, rosemary. These medicinal plants calm the central nervous system.
In epileptiform syndrome, patients are shown a diet. Spicy and s alty foods should be excluded from the diet, as well as limiting the amount of carbohydrates and proteins. Such products can provoke an attack. It is recommended to reduce the amount of fluid consumed.
In most cases, episyndrome is amenable to conservative therapy. Surgical treatment is rarely used. Neurosurgical operations are performed only in the presence of neoplasms in the brain.
Forecast
This disorder is only a symptom of other diseases. Therefore, the prognosis for epileptiform syndrome will depend entirely on the nature of the underlying pathology. If this condition is provoked by infections, then such diseases respond well to antibiotic therapy. If the cause of the episyndrome was a traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis or stroke, then the treatment can be quite lengthy.
In general, epileptiform syndrome has a favorable prognosis. If this violation arose in childhood, then by puberty, seizures usually disappear. The episyndrome does not lead to intellectual impairment and does not affect the mental development of the child. In most cases, seizures disappear without a trace by the age of 14-15.
