preview

A Brief Overview of Epilepsy

Decent Essays

A brief overview of epilepsy
Epilepsy refers to a group of mental disorders. These disorders have different symptoms, causes and treatments. They all range in severity, some being life-threatening and others being benign.
The common thread that ties these disorders together are that they have the symptom of seizures, and all have the same direct cause. A seizure is caused when the electrical pattern of neuronal movement is disrupted by an abnormal current. This can result in muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, convulsions and strange sensations or emotions. Anything that interferes with the brains electrical current can lead to seizures. Being epileptic does not mean that a person has had a seizure before, it is a tendency for recurring seizures.

Different types of epilepsy and their symptoms
There are many different types of epilepsy, although all fit into one of two categories: generalised or partial (also known as focal or local). Generalised refers to seizures that involve the entire brain at once, where partial refers to seizures that start from one area in the brain. Within generalised and partial epilepsy, there are two other categories, as well: idiopathic (the cause is genetic) or symptomatic (cause identified)/cryptogenic (cause suspected, but not discovered).
Generalised Seizures (and their symptoms)
A general take on the symptoms of Generalised seizures are crying or shouting from the patient, rhythmic movements of the arms and legs, eyes are often open

Get Access