General Information
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General Information
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WHAT IS EPILEPSY? Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurring fits or seizures. A fit or seizure is a brief, usually unprovoked disturbance of consciousness, behaviour, motor function or sensation. It happens because of a chemical imbalance within the brain, which leads to the brain’s messages becoming disorganised. This imbalance can occur in any part of the brain. The type of fit or seizure a person experiences depends on the part of the brain in which the abnormal activity starts and the parts to which it may spread. WHO HAS EPILEPSY? Epilepsy can happen to anyone at anytime in their lives. Every working day 105 people in the U.K. will be told they have epilepsy. It is more common in childhood and in later life. According to recent research the incidence rate is about 1:131 The outlook can be positive. Potentially 70% could be seizure free with optimal treatment. WHAT CAUSES EPILEPSY? For the vast majority of people with epilepsy no known cause is identified- this is known as idiopathic epilepsy. Where causes are identified they fall into two main categories: Brain injury, malformation or disease Hereditary factors- Although most people have no family history of epilepsy, some types of generalised epilepsies such as absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and generalised tonic clonic epilepsy on waking, have a hereditary component. PARTIAL OR FOCAL SEIZURES? Epileptic activity starts in one small area of the brain. The seizure may be simple or complex. SIMPLE PARTIAL SEIZURES The seizure mimics the normal function of the part of the brain that has been disturbed. The seizure is usually brief. Consciousness is not lost. Possible symptoms are intense feelings of sudden fear or happiness. Unpleasant smells, tastes or stomach sensations can occur. These are often called ‘an aura’. There may be symptoms affecting movement. The head may be drawn to one side. The hand or arm may become stiff and is drawn upward. There may be jerking movement in the limb affected. Physical sensations may be experienced. Perhaps a tingling or warmth down one side of the body. Vision may be affected. Flashing lights, balls of light, or strange colours are typical symptoms affecting half of the vision. COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURES These can develop from simple partial seizures or consciousness may be impaired from the outset affecting the person’s inability to function normally. They can be brief and occasionally more prolonged. Such seizures can result in complicated automatic behaviours or automatisms. These can include pulling at, putting on or removing clothing; picking up objects; chewing or lip smacking and aimless repeated movements. Sometimes perceptions can change and things can appear bigger or smaller than they really are. This can be very frightening and difficult to explain to others. Perhaps even harder to accept are auras which relate to just feeling detached from one’s environment. On recovery the person may be agitated and confused. After the episode the person usually remembers nothing. The activity causing a simple or complex seizure may spread to other areas of the brain and may sometimes become a generalised seizure. GENERALISED SEIZURES Epileptic discharges involve both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously, consciousness is lost. ABSENCES (formerly called ‘petit mal’)
TONIC CLONIC SEIZURES (‘grand mal’)
Only call an ambulance if one seizure follows another without full recovery in between ORThe person remains unconscious for over 5 minutes ORThe person has injured themselves and requires medical treatment WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU SEE SOMEONE HAVING A CONVULSIVE SEIZURE?
PLEASE DO NOT
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HELPLINE NUMBER: 08457 413774