recurrent seizures

recurrent seizures

1. anatomy

2. definition of seizure

   • A sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain, causing changes in: behavior, movements, or feelings & in levels of consciousness.
     • Due to an abnormal, excessive, hypersynchronous discharge of a population of cortical neurons. (30 seconds to 2 minutes)
     • pathology
   • Epilepsy
     • A disorder characterized by
       • 1)recurrent seizures  2)unprovoked by an acute insult.
         • classifications
           • Investigations
             • EEG--- Blood glucose--- CBC--- Electrolyte panel Toxicology----screen Head CT
     • Seizures vs Epilepsy
     • What causes a seizure?
       • decrease in inhibitory NT OR increase excitatory NT or its receptors
         • causes in children
           • causes in both
             • metabolic disorders causing seizures
         • pharmacological treatment
   • Convulsions
     • An abnormal, sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of the muscles most typically seen during seizures
     • Also, not all convulsions are due to seizures.
   • Phases of a seizure
     • Aura stage
       • Ictus Stage
         • Postictal Stage
     • continuous seizures occurring for longer than 30 minutes.

3. epidemiology

   • Approximately 50 million people currently live with epilepsy worldwide. The estimated proportion of the general population with active epilepsy (i.e. continuing seizures or with the need for treatment) at a given time is between 4 and 10 per 1000 people. However, some studies in low- and middle-income countries suggest that the proportion is much higher, between 7 and 14 per 1000 people.
     • Globally, an estimated 2.4 million people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. In high-income countries, annual new cases are between 30 and 50 per 100 000 people in the general population. In low- and middle-income countries, this figure can be up to two times higher.

4. Signs & Symptoms

   • Short attention blackouts, dazed behavior, memory gaps, mumbling or no response
     • Sudden falls, frequent stumbling or unusual clumsiness
       • Unusual sleepiness and irritability when woken up
   • Warning signs of a seizure
     • AURA
       • vision, hearing, smelling hallucination

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