Types of Epilepsy
The fourth most common neurological condition in the world is epilepsy, which is also known as a seizure disorder.
In the world, over 50 million people have it and that makes it one of the more popular neurological conditions for both children and adults.
Types of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is caused by a malfunction in the central nervous system. The symptoms are mostly consistent for most people.
An abnormality in brain activity triggers seizures or unregulated physical body movements that can cause harm if unattended or unsupervised by other normal adults.
In most cases, there are too many electrical charges in the brain and this causes the abnormality.
There are several types of epilepsy.
Generalized Epilepsy
Generalized seizures are the type that involves the entire brain, not just a single region. It can be further classified into its subtypes:
Absence or Petit Mal
This typically happens to children and can involve loss of consciousness or smacking of the lips.
Atonic
The atonic seizure happens when the patient loses control of his or her muscles and can also cause him or her to fall down.
Tonic
The muscles become stiff in a tonic seizure. This can cause the patient to fall on the floor or the ground.
Clonic
This is the most popular appearance of an epileptic seizure in the mainstream. It involves the repetitive movement of the arms, face, and neck.
Tonic-Clonic
This is a combination of muscle stiffening and movements of rhythm.
Focal Epilepsy
Focal epilepsy occurs when the seizures are focal or it only impacts a certain region or part of the brain.
There are two subtypes: those who have focal seizures and retain full consciousness and those with focal seizures that involve total loss of consciousness or lack of response to external stimuli.
Signs and Symptoms
Multiple seizures is the hallmark symptom for diagnosis of epilepsy. Not all seizures are created equally. Some involve leg and arm movements and some involve a form of stupor or staring blankly into space. Regardless, it can be a source of discomfort to have an altered state of consciousness during an epileptic seizure.
Symptoms include but are not limited to the following
- Confusion or inability to manage one’s self during the episode
- Unconsciousness
- Uncontrollable twitching of limbs (arms and legs)
- Anxiety or fear
However, not all seizures are diagnosed as epilepsy. There has to be two or more incidents that are not caused by other medical issues such as withdrawal symptoms or an extremely low blood sugar level. Diabetics, for example, will have seizures during fatal hypoglycemic attacks even without having an epilepsy in their central nervous system. It’s important to have a formal diagnosis from a neurologist so that proper treatment can be given.
An epileptic seizure that lasts for more than five minutes is a medical emergency. It also is required to have close monitoring if a epileptic patient has diabetes, is pregnant, or having a high fever during the seizure. Some unfortunately also need to seek medical attention when secondary injuries are incurred during episodes.
In cases that don’t need a trip to the emergency room, the Epilepsy Foundation also has a first aid primer for seizures for caregivers.
Causes and Risk Factors
Genetics
Some of the cases of epilepsy are genetic. If a family member has it, there is a possibility of transmitting it in the bloodline. But it’s not entirely genetic.
Environment
There are also environmental triggers and parts of the genes that make a person more likely to have seizures in the body from brain signals.
Poor nutrition at birth
Babies with poor nutrition or environment during a mother’s pregnancy are at risk for epilepsy.
Previous injury or health conditions
The same can also be said for people who have major head injuries, suffer from meningitis or AIDS, and those with certain brain conditions that tend to cause epilepsy.
Close monitoring is important but if it is ultimately well-managed, epilepsy need not be a hindrance for affected children or adults to lead happy and normal lives overall.
Types of Epilepsy Risk Factors
As such, much medical attention has been given to it although diagnosis has been traditionally difficult for it.
Anyone can equally be at risk of having epilepsy regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or age.
Family history, head injuries, stroke, dementia and seizure symptoms in childhood can all be considered risk factors to epilepsy.
Some children have it as kids and then outgrow it; meanwhile, others have to maintain their condition for a lifetime.
