A seizure is a sudden, involuntary change in behavior, muscle control, consciousness and/or sensation. It is often accompanied by an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain. Symptoms of a seizure can range from sudden, violent shaking and total loss of consciousness to muscle twitching or slight shaking of a limb. Staring into space, altered vision and difficult speech are some of the other behaviors that a person may exhibit while having a seizure.
Cause
Diagnosis
Types
Treatment
Other Resources
Seizures are symptoms of abnormal brain function. With the exception of very young children and the elderly, the cause of the abnormal brain function is usually not identifiable. (Epilepsy Foundation)
There are many different conditions that can cause seizures or seizure-like episodes. These can be grouped into four categories: neurological, cardiovascular, psychological and other causes.
Neurological conditions that can cause seizures stem from infections, brain injury, tumors, stroke, etc. These most often lead to changes in the brain's electrical activity and are sometimes referred to as "epileptic seizures."
Discovering why seizures occur can be difficult because there are so many possible causes and because seizures often happen infrequently and unpredictably, making them difficult for a doctor to assess with medical testing. In addition, some people have more than one condition causing seizures.
Diagnosis of Seizures
Diagnosis usually involves:
- A thorough physical and neurological examination
- A detailed medical history
- Analysis of blood and other bodily fluids, an electroencephalogram (EEG), a computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
All of these tests help the doctor find any brain tumors, blood clots, malformations or scar tissue that might be causing seizures.
A magnetoencephalogram (MEG) measures magnetic fields of the brain and can pinpoint the source of signals of seizure activity as well as the site of normal functions such as vision, hearing or sense of touch.
The pattern of seizures must be measured, including types, frequency and duration.
Types of Seizures
There are two basic types of seizures: generalized and partial. These refer to how much of the brain experiences the abnormal electrical activity. The form, intensity and duration of the seizures are related to the number and type of brain cells that are affected. In a Generalized Seizure, the whole brain is affected. In a Partial Seizure, as the name implies, abnormal electrical activity occurs in only part of the brain.
Seizure activity is sometimes preceded by sensations involving the five senses, such as a sound, an unpleasant odor or taste, a sinking or rising feeling in the stomach or head, or spots before the eyes. This is referred to as the "aura." Some people may be able to train themselves to recognize the aura as a warning sign and prepare themselves for the oncoming seizure by taking preventative measures to protect themselves from possible injury.
Treatment of Seizures
If the seizure was caused by an underlying condition that can be corrected, surgery may be needed to correct the problem and seizures will probably not return.
If epilepsy is diagnosed, physicians may prescribe regular use of seizure-preventing drugs. If medicines are not successful in preventing seizures, other methods may be tried, including surgery, a special diet or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
The goal of all epilepsy treatment is to prevent further seizures, avoid side effects and make it possible for people to lead a normal, active life.
Epilepsy Foundation of America
The Epilepsy Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and will work to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services.
Medline Plus
Medline Plus is a service from the National Library of Medicine, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. It contains a wide variety of health-related topics for the healthcare professional and consumer alike.
MedicineNet.com
MedicineNet.com is an online, healthcare media publishing company. It provides easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers.
Cyberonics
The website for information regarding vagus nerve stimulation.
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