Epilepsy may not be familiar to our ears . The word " epilepsy " itself is actually a general term that means " a tendency to seizures " .
In our brain are neurons or nerve cells . Nerve cells are part of the nervous system that functions as a regulator of awareness , the ability to think , gestures, and the system of our senses . Each nerve cells communicate with each other using electrical impulses . Seizures occur when the electrical impulses that cause behavioral disorders or uncontrolled body movements .
Seizures indeed be the main symptom of epilepsy, but not necessarily people who have seizures suffer from this condition. In the medical world, someone is diagnosed with epilepsy after having a seizure as much several times. The severity of seizures in patients with epilepsy each is different. There were only a few seconds and some are up to several minutes. There were only having a seizure on the part of his body and some are having a seizure, causing total loss of consciousness.
According to WHO, an estimated number of people with epilepsy in the world reached fifty million people. In Indonesia, it is estimated there are about 2 million people who suffer from epilepsy. Actually alarming is not the number, but there is still a lack of treatment for people with epilepsy in Indonesia.Menurut WHO, approximately 80-90 percent of people with epilepsy in developing countries in general, do not get proper treatment.
Causes of epilepsy
Epilepsy can begin suffered by a person at any age, though generally this is the case since childhood. Based on the findings of the cause, epilepsy is divided into three, namely epilepsy symptomatic, cryptogenic, and idiopathic.
In symptomatic epilepsy, seizures are generally caused by a disturbance or damage to the brain. Contrary to symptomatic, cause seizures in idiopathic epilepsy did not find. While in cryptogenic epilepsy, although no evidence of structural damage to the brain, but a learning disorder that affects indicate damage.
Treatment and complications of epilepsy
Until now there has been no drug or method that can cure the condition completely. Even so, anti-epileptic drugs or OAE able to prevent seizures, so that patients can perform daily activities normally easily and safely.
In addition to drugs, treatment for epilepsy also be supported with a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise, do not drink alcohol to excess, and eating foods that contain balanced nutrition.
The reason why seizures in people with epilepsy need to be dealt with appropriately is to avoid the occurrence of complications and situations that could endanger the lives of sufferers. Examples are falling, drowning, or had an accident while driving due to seizure.
In rare cases, epilepsy can cause complications in the form of status epilepticus. Status epilepticus occurs when the patient has a seizure for more than five minutes or experienced a series of short seizures without having regained consciousness between seizures. Status epiliptikus can cause permanent damage to the brain, and even death.
symptoms of Epilepsy
Seizures are the main symptom of epilepsy. Before the seizure attack, there are some patients who experience the sensation of "aura". Aura is a warning sign for the impending epileptic seizures. The duration of aura before the seizure varies. There were only a few seconds, and there is also up to an hour.
Overview aura-like hallucinations. For example, there are people who feel the strangeness of their body, the scent of a particular, or feel like I'm in dreamland.
However, the aura provide benefits in people with epilepsy. So they could have time to move to a safer place or ask for the help of people around before a seizure occurs.
Based on the part of the brain affected, epileptic seizures are classified into two, namely the partial or focal seizures and generalized seizures.
partial seizures
In partial seizures ataufocal, only a part of the brain are interrupted so that the whole body is not experiencing seizures. Generally, a person's consciousness is not lost when experiencing partial seizures. Parts of the body having a seizure depends on the part of the brain is impaired. For example, if epilepsy disrupt the function of the brain that regulates movement of the hands or feet, then both members of the body which will be having a seizure.
If the afflicted is part of the brain that regulate the function of the senses, then people with epilepsy will experience a change in look, taste, hear, or smell. In addition, focal seizures also can make people change emotions, such as feeling excited or scared suddenly.
Sometimes, focal seizures affect the consciousness of the sufferer that he looked like a confused or semi-conscious for some time. This is called a complex focal seizures. The characteristics of other complex focal seizures are blankly, swallowing, chewing, or rubbing his hands.
generalized seizures
In generalized seizures or generalized, the symptoms occur in the entire body and is caused by disorders that affect the entire brain. Most patients with generalized seizures may also lose consciousness when a seizure attack. The following are symptoms that can occur when a person develops a generalized seizure:
There is a type of epilepsy that is typically seen in children, epilepsy is known as epilepsiabsence or petit mal. Although this condition is not dangerous, but the concentration and academic performance of children could be disrupted. The characteristics of epilepsy are loss of consciousness for a few seconds, blinking or moving his lips, and a blank stare. Children who experience these spasms will not notice or remember what happened when they spasm.
- Eyes open when seizures.
- The body becomes rigid for a few seconds. This may be followed by the rhythmic movements of the arms and legs or not at all.
- The muscles in the body, especially the arms, legs and upper body twitching.
- Muscular body suddenly relaxed so that the patient fell out of control.
- Rhythmic movements gradually slow before stopping.
- Patients with epilepsy sometimes noises or shouting as seizures.
- Bedwetting.
- Difficulty breathing for some time, so the body looks pale or even blue.
- In most cases, seizures thorough make the patient completely unconscious.
- Once unconscious, the patient looks puzzled for a few minutes or hours.
Causes of Epilepsy
Based on the suspected underlying cause, epilepsy is divided into three, namely symptomatic, cryptogenic, and idiopathic.
In cryptogenic and idiopathic epilepsy, the exact cause is unknown. Idiopathic epilepsy is epilepsy where patients brain and cognitive abilities did not indicate a problem. As for cryptogenic epilepsy, brain scans of patients despite normal, learning or cognitive disorder sufferer indicates that damage to the brain has occurred.
For symptomatic epilepsy, several factors are suspected to be the cause is deformed at birth, cerebral palsy, head injury, tumor, stroke, meningitis, and taking drugs or excessive alcohol. In addition, lack of oxygen to the baby during birth, is also suspected as one cause of symptomatic epilepsy.
Identify the things that can trigger seizures
If you are an epileptic patient, it helps to recognize the things that can trigger seizures so you can prevent or anticipation. Here are some things that can trigger seizures, including:
Epilepsy diagnosis
- Tired from lack of sleep
- Not taking anti-epilepsy medication regularly
- emotional stress
- Low blood sugar levels
- Fever
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- drug use
- When menstruation in women, ie when the brain is affected by changes in hormones during this time
- Flashing lights or glare
- Certain foods, like those containing large amounts of caffeine.
In diagnosing epilepsy , the main thing to be learned physician is the medical history and the patient's lifestyle . Your doctor will ask about the characteristics of the patients experienced seizures .
If the patient does not remember the details of seizures that happened, the doctor may ask the matter to family health history pasien.Jika checks to be sufficient to diagnose epilepsy , the doctor will then do tests to make sure.
Among the test scan with magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scans , namely the detection of injury or abnormalities in the brain as the cause of the seizures .
Other tests are electroencephalogram , or EEG , which is a test to check the impulse or a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain that may be causing seizures .
treatment of Epilepsy
Epilepsy can not be cured, but the number of drugs available anti-epileptic to control seizures. Many people with epilepsy whose seizures reduced, or even not having a seizure at all for many years after therapy, treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (OAE).
In determining the OAE is best suited to the patient, the doctor will adjust the age, condition, and the frequency of seizures experienced by patients. In addition, if the patient is experiencing other health problems, the doctor will adjust the OAE in order not intersect with the performance of other drugs that are consumed by patients.
So that seizures can be prevented to the maximum, the patient is advised to always take medications as prescribed by a doctor on a regular basis. In addition, if the patients wanted to stop taking or switch to other types of OAE, you should check first with your doctor.
Immediately notify your doctor if you experience migraines, mood swings, depression, or suicidal after taking OAE.
Here are the types of OAE that have been available at the moment:
Some side effects commonly experienced OAE are nausea, dizziness, mood swings, abdominal pain, and weight gain. While the side effects OAE were classified as severe, but rare is the inflammation of the liver, rash severity, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
- carbamazepine
- sodium valproate
- vigabatrin
- Topamax
- tiagabine
- oxcarbazepine
- levetiracetam
- lamotrigine
- gabapentin
complications Epilepsy
The reason why seizures in people with epilepsy need to be dealt with appropriately is to avoid the occurrence of complications and situations that could endanger the lives of sufferers. Examples are falling, drowning, or had an accident while driving due to seizure.
Mental health problems that arise from epilepsy should also not be taken lightly. Patients may commit suicide as a result of feeling depressed with the condition. In this case, the role of the family and those close to the patient is required to always provide support and encouragement to him.
In rare cases, epilepsy can cause complications in the form of status epilepticus. Status epilepticus occurs when the patient has a seizure for more than five minutes or experienced a series of short seizures without having regained consciousness between seizures. Status epiliptikus can cause permanent damage to the brain, and even death.
Other complications were also less common is sudden death. Until now, the cause of sudden death in people with epilepsy still not be known with certainty. Some experts argue that it is concerned with the impact on the heart and breathing due to seizure.
Epilepsy and Pregnancy
It is inevitable that epilepsy is harmful to pregnancy. Seizures that occur potentially abort babies being conceived and also threatens the life of the mother. Some types of anti-epileptic drugs in there that makes a fetus at risk of disability.
However, if you suffer from epilepsy and want, do not worry. Plan ahead and do prenatal and conditions regularly to the doctor. Many women who suffer from epilepsy can live a normal pregnancy and give birth to healthy children.
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