Epilepsy: Difference between revisions
Kingrajinix (talk | contribs) |
Kingrajinix (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
Epilepsy is diagnosed clinically. Without seeing or hearing a description of epilepsy, a diagnosis cannot be made. As such, the classification of epilepsy is incredibly detailed which is why is warrants a big title: | Epilepsy is diagnosed clinically. Without seeing or hearing a description of epilepsy, a diagnosis cannot be made. As such, the classification of epilepsy is incredibly detailed which is why is warrants a big title: | ||
===Classification=== | ===Classification Of Seizures=== | ||
The first division to make is into ''partial'' and ''generalised'' which describe the area of the brain affected. The definitions are: | The first division to make is into ''partial'' and ''generalised'' which describe the area of the brain affected. The definitions are: | ||
*'''Partial''' seizures involve a '''localised area of the brain''' | *'''Partial''' seizures involve a '''localised area of the brain''' | ||
*'''Generalised''' seizures involve the '''whole brain''' | *'''Generalised''' seizures involve the '''whole brain''' | ||
====Partial Seizures==== | ====Partial Seizures==== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 15: | ||
*'''Simple''' partial seizures do '''NOT cause a loss of consciousness''' | *'''Simple''' partial seizures do '''NOT cause a loss of consciousness''' | ||
*'''Complex''' partial seizures '''DO cause a loss of consciousness''' | *'''Complex''' partial seizures '''DO cause a loss of consciousness''' | ||
====Generalised seizures==== | |||
These always results in a loss of consciousness and as such cannot be classified in this way. The most important types of generalised epilepsy are: | |||
*Absences | |||
*Tonic-clonic seizures | |||
There are four other types of seizure which are considered generalised but are less common: myoclonic seizures, clonic seizures, tonic seizures and atonic seizures | |||
===Investigations=== | ===Investigations=== | ||
===Management=== | ===Management=== | ||
===Prognosis=== | ===Prognosis=== | ||
Revision as of 13:00, 20 August 2008
Definition
Epidemiology
Pathophysiology
Risk Factors
Clinical Features
Epilepsy is diagnosed clinically. Without seeing or hearing a description of epilepsy, a diagnosis cannot be made. As such, the classification of epilepsy is incredibly detailed which is why is warrants a big title:
Classification Of Seizures
The first division to make is into partial and generalised which describe the area of the brain affected. The definitions are:
- Partial seizures involve a localised area of the brain
- Generalised seizures involve the whole brain
Partial Seizures
Partial seizures can be further divided into simple and complex which describe the effect on consciousness. The definitions are:
- Simple partial seizures do NOT cause a loss of consciousness
- Complex partial seizures DO cause a loss of consciousness
Generalised seizures
These always results in a loss of consciousness and as such cannot be classified in this way. The most important types of generalised epilepsy are:
- Absences
- Tonic-clonic seizures
There are four other types of seizure which are considered generalised but are less common: myoclonic seizures, clonic seizures, tonic seizures and atonic seizures