Week 10 Asynchronous Activity on

Nervous System (EPILEPSY)

ALLYZA ELLAINE BERONDO
BSN - 1

Overview of the anatomy: specific part affected:

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder characterized by
abnormal brain activity, resulting in seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations,
and, in some cases, loss of awareness. Epilepsy can affect anyone. Epilepsy affects
both men and women of all races, ethnicities, and ages.
The symptoms of a seizure can vary greatly. During a seizure, some people
with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds, while others twitch their arms or
legs repeatedly. A single seizure does not imply that you have epilepsy. For an epilepsy
diagnosis, at least two seizures without a known trigger (unprovoked seizures) that
occur at least 24 hours apart are usually required.
The majority of people with epilepsy can be controlled by medication or, in
some cases, surgery. Some people require lifelong treatment to control their seizures,
while others' seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow
their condition as they grow older.

DEFINITION OF EPILEPSY:
Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable brain disease that affects
approximately 50 million people worldwide. It is distinguished by recurrent seizures,
which are brief episodes of involuntary movement involving a portion of the body
(partial) or the entire body (generalized) and are sometimes accompanied by loss of
consciousness and control of bowel or bladder function.
Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in a group of brain
cells. Such discharges can occur in various parts of the brain. Seizures can range from
brief attention lapses or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions. The
frequency of seizures can also vary, from less than one per year to several per day.

Causes and risk factors:

 Epilepsy is not contagious. Although many underlying disease mechanisms
can lead to epilepsy, the cause of the disease is still unknown in about 50% of cases
globally. The causes of epilepsy are divided into the following categories: structural,
genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune and unknown. Examples include:

 brain damage from prenatal or perinatal causes (e.g. a loss of oxygen or trauma
during birth, low birth weight);
 congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions with associated brain
malformations;
 a severe head injury;
 a stroke that restricts the amount of oxygen to the brain;
 an infection of the brain such as meningitis, encephalitis or neurocysticercosis,
 certain genetic syndromes; and
 a brain tumour.

Symptoms
Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in the brain, seizures can affect any
process your brain coordinates. Seizure signs and symptoms may include:

 Temporary confusion
 A staring spell
 Stiff muscles
 Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
 Loss of consciousness or awareness
 Psychological symptoms such as fear, anxiety or déjà vu

Medical management:
Epilepsy can be treated in a variety of ways. Medication is usually required to control
seizures and treat epilepsy; these commonly prescribed drugs are known as
anticonvulsants.

Medication cannot always prevent or reduce seizures. If medication does not provide
relief, a device known as a vagus nerve stimulator may be used to treat epilepsy. The
stimulator is surgically implanted in the patient's chest. It electrically stimulates a large
nerve that runs through the neck (the vagus nerve). This device is effective in
preventing seizures in some people, but even a vagus nerve stimulator cannot
completely prevent seizures.

To help manage epilepsy, some doctors recommend a special diet high in fat and low in
carbohydrates. This is known as a ketogenic diet, and it has the potential to help more
than half of people who have not improved with medication alone.
If medications, diet, or a vagus nerve stimulator do not provide adequate seizure
control, brain surgery to correct the problem may be an option.

Common Medicine for Epilepsy:

 sodium valproate.
 carbamazepine.
 lamotrigine.
 levetiracetam.
 topiramate.

Nursing Management:

Because some of the symptoms can be very frightening, the nurse should stay with the
patient and offer reassurance that the seizure will pass. Because the simple partial
seizure is a warning of a stronger seizure, the nurse should assess the immediate
environment to ensure that, should the patient fall, any potential hazards are removed
that could cause injury.

Nursing assessment includes:

 History. The diagnosis of epileptic seizures is made by analyzing the patient’s
detailed clinical history and by performing ancillary tests for confirmation;
someone who has observed the patient’s repeated events is usually the best
person to provide an accurate history; however, the patient also provides
invaluable details about auras, preservation of consciousness, and postictal
states.
 Physical exam. A physical examination helps in the diagnosis of specific
epileptic syndromes that cause abnormal findings, such as dermatologic
abnormalities (e.g., neurocutaneous syndromes such as Sturge-Weber, tuberous
sclerosis, and others); also, patients who for years have had intractable
generalized tonic-clonic seizures are likely to have suffered injuries requiring
stitches.