What is epilepsy
Epilepsy is defined as a neurological disorder of the central nervous system in which brain activity becomes abnormal. This results in seizures, periods of unusual behavior and sensations, and in some cases, loss of consciousness.
Seizures and epilepsy: What’s the difference?
A seizure is a singular event while epilepsy is a medical diagnosis typically made after two (or more) unprovoked seizures. These seizures are at least 24 hours apart.
What is a provoked seizure?
This is a seizure caused by any number of things from fevers, head injuries, or brain tumors to alcohol/drug use. The Epilepsy Foundation has an excellent resource with more information HERE
International League Against Epilepsy Classification system has many of the causes for recurrent seizures grouped into three categories:
GENETIC EPILEPSY
Can present itself at any time from infancy to adulthood.
Epilepsy that involves a single gene that mutates (changes) is often inherited from one parent in what is called an ‘autosomal dominant pattern.’
STRUCTURAL/METABOLIC
- Children -Injuries or physical abnormalities present at birth
- Metabolic– Typically present during childhood.
- Autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematous and autoimmune limbic encephalitis)
- Inborn errors of metabolism (mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, Leigh syndrome, etc.
- Trauma, Infections, Tumors, and Stroke.
- Scars in the temporal lobe (Mesial temporal sclerosis). Febrile seizures are linked to scarring and MTS.
UNKNOWN CAUSE
Many times the exact cause of epilepsy cannot be determined
