Symptoms & Treatment
Definition
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in which the individual has recurrent seizures.
These seizures occur when there is an imbalance in the electrical activity of the brain. The malfunction may be in a small area of the brain or spread to the entire brain.
Epilepsy usually begins in childhood or adolescence. About 2.3 million people have seizures or epilepsy.
Epilepsy can be hereditary and can be associated with head injury, birth trauma, brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis, brain tumor or deformity, stroke, very high fever or withdrawal from drugs.
Symptoms
There are two main categories of epileptic seizures. Generalized seizures involve a loss of consciousness and affect the whole body. Partial seizures do not necessarily involve the loss of consciousness and can lead to a generalized seizure.
In addition to the seizures, symptoms may include mood changes and intense feelings of fear or déjà vu, fatigue, jerking or twitching of arms and legs, or an aura, flashing lights or noises.
The seizures may occur rarely or every day. Many people with epilepsy have no symptoms between seizures and lead normal lives. Some people have no symptoms for years and may be weaned off medication.
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Diagnosis
To diagnose epilepsy, a doctor will study the patient’s history, do thorough physical and neurological evaluations and run a variety of tests.
Those tests may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that produces pictures of tissues in the brain, an electroencephalograph (EEG) to record the electrical impulses of the brain, an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor the heart and blood tests that could exclude other diseases.
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Treatment
EPILEPSY CENTER
Offering the Latest Treatments
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is recognized internationally for the medical management of epilepsy. Our physicians routinely serve as faculty for the J. Kiffin Penry Minifellowship Program, attended by physicians from around the world.
Because of our leadership in medication development, patients in our Epilepsy Clinic have access to the newest medications first through clinical trials. Our epileptologists - including specialists in pediatric epilepsy - are experts in selecting the drug combinations most suitable for each patient.
When medication alone can't control seizures, we evaluate patients for other treatment options, such as surgical removal of the epileptic focus or implantation of the vagal nerve stimulator. This approach is especially beneficial for children, who can be spared the learning and developmental problems associated with poor seizure control.
| Surgical removal of the epileptic focus has been successful and safe in adults and children of all ages. In the first randomized, controlled trial of surgery for epilepsy, researchers found that surgery is far more effective than medical therapy for treating drug-resistant epilepsy (New England Journal of Medicine, August 2, 2001). Complete seizure control is achieved in 70 to 80 percent of patients - another 10 to 15 percent have a significant reduction in frequency and severity. |
The vagal nerve stimulator, which controls seizures by sending electrical pulses to the vagus nerve, can be implanted on an outpatient basis using a single incision.
Web Presentation - Vagal Nerve Stimulator in treatment of Epilepsy The Medical Center - instrumental in the nine-year research effort that led to the device's approval - was first in the United States to implant the device in a human. |
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Links
http://www.wfubmc.edu/surg-sci/ns/epilepsy.html
This epilepsy index from the Department of Neurosurgery provides not only links within the Medical Center, but also to a variety of other resources, organizations and groups like the International Center for Epilepsy.
http://www.aesnet.org
The American Epilepsy Society promotes research and education for professionals dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of Epilepsy.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/
The Epilepsy Foundation of America’s Web site gives information on epilepsy, as well as books, videos, news, services, research, a kid’s club and other related topics.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorder_index.htm
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke offers a patient guide to disorders that are listed on this Web page alphabetically under the heading of publications. Information on epilepsy is available in the alphabetical directory. This Web site also has information for professionals.
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