Neurological Disorder of Epilepsy: Diagnose and Treatment

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder. A neurological disorder is where brain activity becomes abnormal and causes a seizure. These seizures because of epilepsy start without warning and they are different for every person. Anyone can have epilepsy. Epilepsy causes numerous symptoms. Epilepsy is caused by abnormal brain activity which can cause seizures. This can affect any process your brain coordinates. Seizure symptoms can include temporary confusion, staring spell, uncontrollable jerking movements of limbs, loss of consciousness, and psychic symptoms. Symptoms are different depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy tends to have the same type of seizure every time, so the symptoms of the seizure will be similar each time. These seizures can go into two categories, either focal or generalized. The type of seizure your have is based on how the abnormal brain activity begins.

Focal seizures is when abnormal activity is in just one area of the brain. Focal seizures fall into two categories as well, focal seizures without loss of consciousness and focal seizures with impaired awareness. Focal seizures without loss of consciousness may alter the person’s emotions or the way things look, smell, taste, or sound to that person. This kind of seizure may also cause jerking of the arms and legs. Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain and cause loss of consciousness. Doctors do many tests to when a person has epilepsy. They take these tests to make sure you have this disorder, why you have it, and what kind you have it. Two tests include a neurological exam and a blood test. A neurological exam is used to test the patient’s behavior, motor abilities, and mental function. Blood samples are taken to check for infections, genetic conditions, or other conditions that may have to do with epilepsy. Other tests are used to detect brain abnormalities.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a common test used to diagnose epilepsy. In this test, doctors attach electrodes to your scale. The electrodes record the electrical activity of your brain. Other tests to diagnose this disorder include a high-density EEG, computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and functional MRI (fMRI). There are also test to find where in the brain seizures start. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) compares areas of the brain that have increased metabolism during seizures to normal brains, which can give doctors an idea of where seizures begin.

Treatment for this disorder includes medication and possibly surgery. If medications don't work, doctors may suggest surgery or another type of treatment. Most people with epilepsy can become seizure-free by the anti-seizure medication, which is also called anti-epileptic medication. Others may be able to decrease the intensity of their seizures by taking a combination of medications. Though there are symptoms that may come along with the medicine which include, fatigue, dizziness, weight gain, loss of bone density, skin rashes loss of coordination, speech problems, and memory and thinking problems. More severe side effects include depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, severe rashes, and inflammation of certain organs, such as your liver. Though these side effects are very rare. When medications fail your doctor may suggest surgery. In this epilepsy surgery, a surgeon removes the area of your brain that's causing seizures. Doctors only usually perform surgery when tests show that either your seizures originate in a small, well-defined area of your brain and when the area in your brain to be operated on doesn't interfere with main functions.