Seizures, also known as epileptic seizures, are sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, and consciousness. Seizures can occur for various reasons, such as head injury, brain infection, genetic factors, or unknown causes.
Symptoms of seizures may vary depending on the type of seizure and the area of the brain affected. Some common symptoms include convulsions, muscle rigidity, loss of consciousness, confusion, staring spells, and abnormal sensations. Seizures can also cause emotional changes, such as fear, anxiety, or déjà vu.
Types of seizures:
There are many different types of seizures, but they generally fall into two main categories: focal seizures and generalized seizures.
Focal seizures: These seizures start in a specific area of the brain and may affect one part of the body or one side of the body. They can be further classified into two types:
Focal onset aware seizures: During these seizures, the person remains conscious and aware of their surroundings. They may experience abnormal sensations, emotions, or movements.
Focal onset impaired awareness seizures: During these seizures, the person may lose awareness and have a blank stare or automatisms (repetitive movements such as lip smacking or hand wringing).
Generalized seizures: These seizures involve both sides of the brain and typically affect the whole body. They can be further classified into several types:
- Absence seizures: Also called petit mal seizures, these seizures often occur in children and are characterized by a brief loss of consciousness and a blank stare.
- Tonic seizures: During these seizures, the person’s muscles become stiff and they may fall to the ground.
- Atonic seizures: During these seizures, the person experiences a sudden loss of muscle tone, causing them to fall to the ground.
- Clonic seizures: These seizures involve rhythmic, jerking movements of the muscles
- Myoclonic seizures: These seizures involve brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or group of muscles.
- Tonic-clonic seizures: Also called grand mal seizures, these seizures involve a loss of consciousness, followed by muscle rigidity (tonic phase) and then rhythmic, jerking movements (clonic phase).
Treatment of seizures
The treatment of seizures depends on the underlying cause and type of seizure. In general, seizures are treated with medications called antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), which can help to prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
For people with epilepsy, the type of AED prescribed will depend on the type of seizures they have, their age, and other factors such as other health conditions and medications they may be taking. AEDs work by stabilizing the electrical activity in the brain, which can reduce the likelihood of seizures.
Following are some antiepileptic drugs used in the treatment of seizures:
- Levetiracetam, lamotrigine( these drugs are used in pregnancy)
- Carbamazepine and phenytoin
Status epilepticus
It is a medical emergency characterized by prolonged or continuous seizures that last longer than five minutes, or multiple seizures occur without recovery of consciousness between them. This condition can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
The most common causes of status epilepticus include a sudden withdrawal of antiepileptic medication, brain injury or infection, stroke, and drug overdose. In some cases, no underlying cause can be identified.
Treatment of Status Epilepticus:
- Benzodiazepine
- Fosphenytoin
- Phenobarbital
- General anesthesia