What is epilepsy?
In epilepsy creates regular ' short circuit ' in the brain. That's called an epileptic attack. During such an attack hits you the control over your body off my chest. Your muscles cramping or slacking. Your body can go violently shocks, but not necessarily. Especially in children may also be that they just like to stop responding or that they collapse. Many people remember after an attack not what happened.
How do you get epilepsy?
Epilepsy can arise at any age. Usually, the cause of epilepsy. Sometimes it comes by brain injury, for example by accident, inflammation, bleeding or a tumor. Epilepsy can also be hereditary, in part or at all. It occurs in one of the one hundred and fifty people.
Different epilepsy syndromes in children.
Some forms of epilepsy go without saying. But usually there are medications: antiepileptics. If medications do not help, brain surgery can be a solution, or a special form of neurostimulation (vagus nerve stimulation). In some children helps a high-fat diet (ketogenic diet).
Attack forms in epilepsy
There are several types of seizures. Most people have always the same kind of attack.
Short attack (absence)
This attack is common in children in the primary grades. The child responds a few seconds no sense. A child can have a lot of absences per day and therefore have trouble learning.
Relaxation of the muscles (atonic attack)
Especially children get these attacks. The muscles slacken and the child sinks into each other. They may fall hard. The child is a few seconds unconscious.
Large attack (tonic-clonic attack)
First cramping all muscles of the body. Then they violently jerking and touches the person briefly unconscious. After the attack are some people confused and so tired that they immediately fall asleep. One half of the body can after this attack temporarily weakened or paralyzed. That takes a few minutes to a few hours.
Complex partial attack
This attack often starts with a smell, a bad taste or an undefined feeling. It could be that people see things, hear, feel or dreams. They also allow strange movements. They do not respond or very slow on their environment. Their consciousness is reduced. Thereby realize they are not good that they have seizures.
Simple partial attack
In this attack may be that people see everything, hear, taste and feel. Also light twitching. The person does not get unconscious. Most people realize that they have a good attack.
Attack with muscle shakes (Myoclonic attack)
In this attack shocks the arms or legs. Sometimes that one small shock, sometimes a whole series of shocks. A single time jerks the entire body. The person does not get unconscious. Most people realize that they have a good attack.
Status epilepticus
An attack or a series of seizures that lasts longer than a quarter called status epilepticus. This is very dangerous. Status epilepticus may lead to cardiac arrhythmia and hypoxia. Suddenly stopping medication, fever, or severe stress can cause status epilepticus.
How is epilepsy diagnosed / How does the doctor determine epilepsy?
Sometimes it seems an attack on epilepsy, but it's something else. For example hyperventilation, fainting, a nightmare or a febrile convulsion. To make sure that epilepsy is, there must have been more attacks in each case.
To determine whether you have epilepsy, the doctor will first of all a number of questions. What exactly happened? How quickly the attack began? How long did it take? Was there a reason for this? The person usually does not know exactly what happens during a seizure. Therefore, a partner or parent help describe the attack. Which could even film an attack.
If it seems that you have epilepsy, you get an electroencephalogram (EEG). Unfortunately, a long EEC do not always tell whether a person has epilepsy. Therefore, there is often require further examination of the brains. You will get an MRI scan or a CT scan.
The phenomena of epilepsy sometimes similar to those of other diseases, such as a heart rhythm disorder or an infection in the brains. Therefore, the physician may determine whether you have one of these diseases.
- If the doctor wants to know if you have a heart rhythm disorder, let them make an ECG.
- With blood tests the doctor to check whether you have a brain infection.
What is the treatment for epilepsy?
Epilepsy can not be cured. Some people are concerned after a number of years or by itself. There are drugs that prevent seizures: anticonvulsants. It may take long before you find the right medicines. They often cause side effects such as drowsiness or rash.
You must use the medication for a long time. If you have had no seizures for several years, you can watch with your doctor whether you can slowly stop taking medication.
Help AEDs were not good enough or you have lots of side effects? Then perhaps help surgery. Such an operation is possible only when the attacks start getting in one place in the brains. The surgeon takes a small piece in the operation of the brains away. For example, on the site of a tumor or scar, or the place where the brain does not work properly (epilepsy fireplace).
Some children with epilepsy assists a high-fat diet (ketogenic diet).
Neurostimulation is a possibility. You will receive during surgery a small device (a pacemaker) under your chest muscle. The stimulator regularly gives an incentive to the brains. A nerve that goes through the left side of the neck, the vagus nerve. You can also give themselves an incentive if you feel a seizure. Many people will get less frequent and less severe seizures. A small number of people get no more attacks altogether. Antiepileptic drugs remain necessary.
First aid for seizures
Most seizures last only a couple of minutes. They self-limiting and medical aid is not necessary. Such an attack does not damage the brains. The greatest danger is that someone falls and injures himself while.
What do you do if you see that someone has a major attack?
- Stay calm, stay with the person and talk quietly.
- Try to ensure that the person does not injure. Protect the head by example to put under a jacket.
- Make sure the person does not get into a dangerous situation, such as in traffic or in the water.
What should you not do?
- Do not try to silence anyone with violence. This does not help.
- Do not put anything between the teeth. This can damage the teeth.
- The attack lasts longer than five minutes. Then brains and heart overload lack of oxygen. This can be life threatening. The person should go to hospital for medical attention.
- The person is seriously injured or burned during the attack.
Coping With Epilepsy
People with seizures are more likely to have an accident. How can you reduce the risks?
- Sport is good. But suddenly stop exercising increases the risk of an attack. Never forget the cooling down. Not all sports are suitable. Sport never by yourself if you've ever attacks. Tell your fellow athletes that you have epilepsy and what to do if you get an attack.
- You can swim, even if you sometimes have a seizure. Make sure that there is always someone around who can keep constant watch and help. Children often have seizures should never be alone in water, even in an inflatable pool.
- Do not go alone in the bath. Rather take a shower. Leave your shower faucet put a safety thermostat.
- Certain things can trigger an attack: lack of sleep, alcohol, flashing lights, stress and suddenly stop taking medications or reduce your medication. Some women with epilepsy menstruation increases the risk of an attack. In children, fever may trigger an attack. If you know what triggers attacks at you, try to avoid these situations then. Give your child time something for the fever, preferably in the form of a suppository.
- Smoking does not increase the chances of an attack. However, there is a risk that slips out of your hand and a cigarette caused a fire during an attack.
- Occasionally may have a drink, but do not drink too much. By some anti-epileptic drugs can be very drunk quickly.
- You may only drive for extended periods have not had a seizure. You will also need a certificate of adequacy Foundation CBR. This statement can get once you are approved by a neurologist. The statement should pay yourself.
- Wear a medical identification with you, such as a medicine passport.
Being pregnant and giving birth with epilepsy
Women with epilepsy are just pregnant. However, a baby has a greater chance of birth defects if you take during your pregnancy anticonvulsants. Birth defects include heart defects, cleft lip or palate (cleft) and spina bifida. It is for all good women to take folic acid in order to reduce the risk of spina bifida, and especially for women with epilepsy.
The risk of abnormalities in the child is smaller if you use as little as possible different drugs and if the dose is low. Stop anticonvulsants because you're pregnant is dangerous, even for the baby. Women with epilepsy who are pregnant, are best with their doctor to discuss their medication.
Used father during the period of conception anticonvulsants? Then there are probably no harmful consequences for the child; that has never been shown in each case.
Most births in women with epilepsy completed without problems. There is a very small chance that you get an attack during childbirth. That's why you like best in the hospital.