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Neurological problems
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EPILEPSY
IN CHILDREN
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is defined as seizure disorder. A seizure (fit or convulsion) is an excessive electrical discharge of the nerve cells leading to abnormal posturing of limbs, clenching of teeth or just drop attacks and even unconsciousness.
Seizures are of various types. Some patients may just have blank spells and some may have abnormal postures with or without loss of consciousness.
What are the types of seizures?
There are 2 main types of seizures:
(a) Partial seizures: The electrical discharge begins in one part of the brain leading to involvement of only one side of body. They are also called focal seizures. If the patient remains conscious during the episode it is known as simple partial seizure and if becomes unconscious, it is known as complex partial seizure. A fit that starts in one part of the body and then involves entire body due to spread of electrical discharge to other parts of brain is called as partial seizure becoming secondarily generalized.
(b) Generalized seizures: Here, the electrical discharge involves almost the entire brain and patient has fits of entire body associated with loss of unconsciousness. Absence seizures are a form of seizure in which a patient has a brief spell of staring blankly and becoming unresponsive for a few seconds to minutes.
Are seizures life-threatening?
Prolonged seizures can be life threatening as it may lead to decreased oxygen supply to the brain. However that is very rare.
Why does epilepsy occur?
Seizures may be seen in various conditions such low blood sugar, high blood pressure, meningitis (infection of the brain), brain tumor etc apart from epilepsy. Epilepsy is a seizure disorder due to low threshold for a nerve cell to throw an electrical discharge. The cause of most kinds of epilepsy is not known.
Is epilepsy infectious?
No, epilepsy is not contagious. However, some types of epilepsy are inherited and have a strong familial pattern.
Epilepsy is defined as seizure disorder. A seizure (fit or convulsion) is an excessive electrical discharge of the nerve cells leading to abnormal posturing of limbs, clenching of teeth or just drop attacks and even unconsciousness.
Seizures are of various types. Some patients may just have blank spells and some may have abnormal postures with or without loss of consciousness.
What are the types of seizures?
There are 2 main types of seizures:
(a) Partial seizures: The electrical discharge begins in one part of the brain leading to involvement of only one side of body. They are also called focal seizures. If the patient remains conscious during the episode it is known as simple partial seizure and if becomes unconscious, it is known as complex partial seizure. A fit that starts in one part of the body and then involves entire body due to spread of electrical discharge to other parts of brain is called as partial seizure becoming secondarily generalized.
(b) Generalized seizures: Here, the electrical discharge involves almost the entire brain and patient has fits of entire body associated with loss of unconsciousness. Absence seizures are a form of seizure in which a patient has a brief spell of staring blankly and becoming unresponsive for a few seconds to minutes.
Are seizures life-threatening?
Prolonged seizures can be life threatening as it may lead to decreased oxygen supply to the brain. However that is very rare.
Why does epilepsy occur?
Seizures may be seen in various conditions such low blood sugar, high blood pressure, meningitis (infection of the brain), brain tumor etc apart from epilepsy. Epilepsy is a seizure disorder due to low threshold for a nerve cell to throw an electrical discharge. The cause of most kinds of epilepsy is not known.
Is epilepsy infectious?
No, epilepsy is not contagious. However, some types of epilepsy are inherited and have a strong familial pattern.
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