What is epilepsy?
Have you, your child, or a loved one been diagnosed with epilepsy?
You are not alone! Epilepsy is a very common condition. Approximately 460,000 Americans aged 0-17 years have active epilepsy. An estimated 1 in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point during their lifetimes. There are numerous organizations and resources devoted to helping those with epilepsy manage their condition. We are here to help you learn more about epilepsy and get connected with support. Let's get started by discussing some basics.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain. When a short period of abnormal electrical activity takes place in the brain, a seizure can occur. A person is diagnosed with epilepsy if they have had two or more unprovoked seizures. Unprovoked seizures are those that occur in the absence of any other physiological imbalance such as fever, altered blood glucose, infection, or substance withdrawal.
What does a seizure look like?
Seizures involve abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can look very different depending on where the abnormal activity in the brain occurs. There are several kinds of common seizures:
You are not alone! Epilepsy is a very common condition. Approximately 460,000 Americans aged 0-17 years have active epilepsy. An estimated 1 in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point during their lifetimes. There are numerous organizations and resources devoted to helping those with epilepsy manage their condition. We are here to help you learn more about epilepsy and get connected with support. Let's get started by discussing some basics.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain. When a short period of abnormal electrical activity takes place in the brain, a seizure can occur. A person is diagnosed with epilepsy if they have had two or more unprovoked seizures. Unprovoked seizures are those that occur in the absence of any other physiological imbalance such as fever, altered blood glucose, infection, or substance withdrawal.
What does a seizure look like?
Seizures involve abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can look very different depending on where the abnormal activity in the brain occurs. There are several kinds of common seizures:
- Simple partial seizures only affect a part of the brain. Children with simple partial seizures do not lose consciousness and remain aware of their environment. The child may experience any of the following signs and symptoms: isolated twitching, numbness, sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or sensory disturbances (for example, strange tastes, sights, sounds, or smells).
- Complex partial seizures also only affect part of the brain. Children with complex partial seizures are conscious, but they are not fully aware of their surroundings or responsive. Common signs and symptoms include standing still, staring, picking at clothes, smacking lips, and wandering.
- Atonic seizures are generalized seizures, which means that the entire brain is affected. During atonic seizures, children suddenly go limp and drop to the ground, but recover quickly.
- Myoclonic seizures, in contrast, are brief, forceful jerks that involve either part of the body or the entire body. The seizure looks like the person has been struck by a jolt of electricity. Most people have experienced myoclonic jerks that involve stiffening of the whole body when waking up, which are similar to myoclonic seizures. Mycolonic seizures involve the whole brain.
- Absence seizures look like daydreaming for brief periods. In absence seizures, children appear to be "spacing out" and are unresponsive and unaware of what is happening to them. The entire brain is involved.
- Tonic seizures involve stiffening of either part of or the entire body. Tonic seizures occur most often during sleep and usually last less than 20 seconds. Tonic seizures also affect the whole brain.
- Tonic-clonic seizures were formerly referred to as "grand mal seizures." They involve a sudden loss of consciousness and body stiffening that is followed by jerking movements. People experiencing tonic-clonic seizures sometimes lose control of their bowels or bladder. It is normal for people having tonic-clonic seizures to get blue around the mouth, but serious oxygen deprivation is rare. Tonic-clonic seizures involve the entire brain.
What causes epilepsy?
Two out of every three people with epilepsy have no known cause of their condition. This kind of epilepsy is referred to as idiopathic or cryptogenic. Although most people with epilepsy do not know the cause, there are several known causes. Some of the most common causes include stroke, brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, brain infection, brain injury from oxygen deprivation, certain genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome, and other neurological disorders. In recognition that epilepsy is a disorder with several distinct causes, some have advocated for using the term "epilepsies" in place of epilepsy.
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
Clinically, epilepsy is diagnosed by a history of two or more unprovoked seizures. Determining that a seizure was unprovoked, or not caused by some internal disturbance, requires a comprehensive physical examination along with several pertinent laboratory studies including blood glucose level, toxicity screen, and chemistry panels.
Once other possible causes of seizure have been ruled out, the health care team will often advise patients to undergo a video-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) in an inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). An electroencephalogram (EEG) is simply a picture of the electrical activity happening inside of the head. Electrodes are placed on the scalp and record electrical impulses generated in the brain. The procedure is totally painless as no electricity is transmitted from the electrodes to the brain. A video-recorded EEG can take anywhere from one hour to several days depending on the severity and frequency of seizures that occur. Using the information from the EEG, the health care team can often locate and characterize the abnormal electrical activity to help guide treatment.
Two out of every three people with epilepsy have no known cause of their condition. This kind of epilepsy is referred to as idiopathic or cryptogenic. Although most people with epilepsy do not know the cause, there are several known causes. Some of the most common causes include stroke, brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, brain infection, brain injury from oxygen deprivation, certain genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome, and other neurological disorders. In recognition that epilepsy is a disorder with several distinct causes, some have advocated for using the term "epilepsies" in place of epilepsy.
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
Clinically, epilepsy is diagnosed by a history of two or more unprovoked seizures. Determining that a seizure was unprovoked, or not caused by some internal disturbance, requires a comprehensive physical examination along with several pertinent laboratory studies including blood glucose level, toxicity screen, and chemistry panels.
Once other possible causes of seizure have been ruled out, the health care team will often advise patients to undergo a video-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) in an inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). An electroencephalogram (EEG) is simply a picture of the electrical activity happening inside of the head. Electrodes are placed on the scalp and record electrical impulses generated in the brain. The procedure is totally painless as no electricity is transmitted from the electrodes to the brain. A video-recorded EEG can take anywhere from one hour to several days depending on the severity and frequency of seizures that occur. Using the information from the EEG, the health care team can often locate and characterize the abnormal electrical activity to help guide treatment.
Is epilepsy a lifelong condition?
Currently, there is no "cure" for epilepsy. For some children, it is possible to stop taking anti-seizure medications if they have been seizure-free for several years. Most frequently, children are able to discontinue medication in their late teens or early twenties. Attempts to change or stop medication regimens should always be attempted under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider. For others, surgery can be used to control seizures by removing the affected area of the brain. For many children, epilepsy does last a lifetime. Anti-seizure medications are usually very effective at controlling seizures. The risk of sudden death related to epilepsy is very low, but precautions need to be taken to prevent serious injury during certain activities such as driving and swimming.
Currently, there is no "cure" for epilepsy. For some children, it is possible to stop taking anti-seizure medications if they have been seizure-free for several years. Most frequently, children are able to discontinue medication in their late teens or early twenties. Attempts to change or stop medication regimens should always be attempted under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider. For others, surgery can be used to control seizures by removing the affected area of the brain. For many children, epilepsy does last a lifetime. Anti-seizure medications are usually very effective at controlling seizures. The risk of sudden death related to epilepsy is very low, but precautions need to be taken to prevent serious injury during certain activities such as driving and swimming.