4 Types Of Epilepsys

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects an estimated 65 million people in the world. Those diagnosed with this disorder will endure having the normal pattern of neuronal activity in their brain being disturbed which causes a seizure that could either be practically benign or life-threatening (1). In order to be diagnosed with epilepsy, one must have at least two seizures in their lifetime. Seizures are put into two main categories, focal and generalized (4). The two main types of focal seizures are Simple-partial and Complex-partial. Simple-partial episodes are characterized by an alteration in senses that typically results in involuntary body movements without a loss of consciousness. Complex-partial seizures often end with a loss
CT’s and MRI’s, also known as Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, are the most common tests that will be performed. Epilepsy can be caused by genetics, head trauma, brain conditions, infectious diseases, prenatal injury, or developmental disorders (4). In some cases the cause is unknown, which is called having Idiopathic epilepsy. Some things that can increase one’s chances of developing this brain disorder include age, family history, head injuries, having a vascular disease, Dementia, Alzheimer's, brain infections, or seizures in one’s
All cases of epilepsy start out with being put on anticonvulsant medications. These drugs are taken orally and the type of drug prescribed depends on the patient’s age and type of seizures they endure. In some cases, patients are diagnosed with “medically refractory epilepsy,” which means that their seizure disorder is not controlled after trying at least two or three anti-seizure drugs (2). In cases such as this, the doctor will recommend surgery. The type of epilepsy surgery the patient will have done depends on the types of seizure they have and where they originate in the brain. The most common surgery, called resective surgery, is to remove a portion of the brain that is causing the seizures. This procedure has the highest rates of success. Another type of surgery performed could be the severation of the neuronal connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This procedure, also known as corpus callosotomy, is mainly used in children who have severe seizures. It often reduces the severity of the seizures and will not completely stop them from occurring. The last, and most radical procedure done, is called Hemispherectomy. It consists of removing the outer layer of half the brain and is used in children who have seizures because of damage done to one half of their brain. All of these operations have post-surgery risks of memory problems, behavioral changes, double vision, and reduced