University of Colima Faculty of medicine

Level B1- (CEFR)

By Jos Antonio Torres Magallanes

Epilepsy is a common and diverse set of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. Some definitions of epilepsy require that seizures be recurrent and unprovoked Others require only a single seizure combined with brain alterations which increase the chance of future seizures.

Epilepsy has many possible causes, including illness, brain injury, and abnormal brain development. In many cases, the cause is unknown. This is a hereditary disease

Epileptic seizures result from abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain People may have strange sensations and emotions or behave strangely. They may have violent muscle spasms or lose consciousness.

Doctors use brain scans and other tests to diagnose epilepsy. Epilepsy is one of the most common of the serious neurological disorders About 3% of people will be diagnosed with epilepsy at some time in their lives.

People with epilepsy will often have abnormal electrical activity seen on an EEG (electroencephalogram) The test may show the area in the brain where the seizures start

There is a very low risk of sudden death with epilepsy. However, serious injury can occur if a seizure occurs during driving or when operating equipment.

There is no cure for epilepsy, but medicines can control seizures for most people When medicines are not working well, surgery or implanted devices such as vagus nerve stimulators may help. Special diets can help some children with epilepsy.

Persons with uncontrolled seizures should not drive. If you have uncontrolled seizures, you should also avoid activities where loss of awareness would cause great danger, such as climbing to high places, biking, and swimming alone.

Duvivier EH, Pollack Jr CV. Seizures. In: Marx, JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009: chap 100. http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/dis ease/epilepsy Kornblau DH, Conway Jr EE, Caplen SM. Neurologic Disorders. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2009: chap 173.