An occasional epileptic seizure

Epilepsy, commonly known as epilepsy, causes a brief loss of consciousness and convulsions of the limbs. Epilepsy is divided into primary and secondary. Epilepsy is hereditary. If there is an elder who suffers from epilepsy, it is very likely that the next generation will have patients with epilepsy. At present, there are many methods to treat epilepsy in my country, but none of them can completely cure the root cause. In life, we have seen patients who occasionally suffer from epileptic seizures, so how to treat them?

Epilepsy, commonly known as "epilepsy" or "seizures", is a chronic disease in which brain neurons suddenly discharge abnormally, leading to temporary brain dysfunction. According to the latest epidemiological data in China, the overall prevalence of epilepsy in the country is 7.0‰, the annual incidence is 28.8/100,000, and the prevalence of active epilepsy with attacks within one year is 4.6‰. Based on this estimate, there are approximately 9 million epilepsy patients in China, of which 5 to 6 million are active epilepsy patients. At the same time, there are approximately 400,000 new epilepsy patients each year. In China, epilepsy has become the second most common disease in neurology after headache.

Classification of epileptic seizures

The epileptic seizure classification scheme currently in widespread use is the one proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy in 1981. Epileptic seizures are classified into partial/focal seizures, generalized seizures, and unclassifiable seizures. In 2010, the International League Against Epilepsy proposed the latest classification scheme for epileptic seizures, which reclassified and supplemented epileptic seizures. Although the new program summarizes the progress of epilepsy research in recent years, it is more comprehensive and complete.

Partial/focal seizures: refers to seizures in which the initial symptoms and EEG changes indicate that "neurons in a certain part of the cerebral hemisphere are activated first." Includes simple partial seizures, complex partial seizures, and secondary generalized seizures.

Generalized seizure: refers to a seizure in which the initial symptoms and EEG changes indicate that "both cerebral hemispheres are affected simultaneously." Includes absence, myoclonic, tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic, and atonic seizures.

Unclassifiable seizures: seizures that cannot be classified due to insufficient or incomplete data or that cannot be classified in the current classification criteria (such as convulsive seizures).

New types of seizures confirmed in recent years include absence myoclonus, negative myoclonus, eyelid myoclonus, and gelastic seizures.

Classification of epilepsy syndromes

Depending on the cause of epilepsy, it can be divided into idiopathic epilepsy syndrome, symptomatic epilepsy syndrome and possible symptomatic epilepsy syndrome. The new scheme proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy in 2001 also defined or standardized some key terms, including reflex epilepsy syndrome, benign epilepsy syndrome, and epileptic encephalopathy.

Idiopathic epilepsy syndrome: A syndrome in which, apart from epilepsy, there is no structural brain damage or other neurological symptoms and signs. The disease usually starts before puberty and has a good prognosis.

Symptomatic epilepsy syndrome: central nervous system lesions or abnormalities caused by various reasons, including abnormal brain structure or various factors affecting brain function. With the advancement of medicine and the continuous development and enrichment of examination methods, more and more epilepsy cases can find the causes.

Possible symptomatic epilepsy syndrome or cryptogenic epilepsy: It is considered to be a symptomatic epilepsy syndrome, but the cause is currently unknown.

Reflex epilepsy syndrome: refers to epilepsy in which almost all seizures are triggered by specific senses or complex cognitive activities, such as reading epilepsy, startle epilepsy, visual reflex epilepsy, hot bath epilepsy, card epilepsy, etc. If the triggering factors are removed, the attacks will disappear.

Benign epilepsy syndrome: refers to an epilepsy syndrome that is easy to treat or can be completely relieved without treatment and leaves no sequelae.

Epileptic encephalopathy: refers to the progressive brain dysfunction caused by the epileptic abnormality itself. The main or entire cause is due to epileptic seizures or frequent epileptic discharges during the intervals between seizures. Most of the cases occur in newborns, infants and children. The EEG was obviously abnormal and the drug treatment was ineffective. Including West syndrome, LGS, LKS, Ohtawara syndrome, Dravet syndrome, etc.

Causes of epilepsy

The causes of epilepsy are complex and diverse, including genetic factors, brain diseases, and systemic or systemic diseases.

Genetic factors of epilepsy

Genetic factors are an important cause of epilepsy, especially idiopathic epilepsy. Molecular genetic studies have found that the molecular mechanism of some genetic epilepsy is structural or functional changes in ion channels or related molecules.

Epilepsy Brain Disease

Congenital brain developmental abnormalities: cerebral gray matter heterotopia, brain perforation malformation, tuberous sclerosis, cerebrofacial angiomatosis, etc.

Brain tumors: primary or metastatic

Intracranial infection: various encephalitis, meningitis, brain abscess, cerebral cysticercosis, cerebral toxoplasmosis, etc.

Craniocerebral trauma: birth injury, intracranial hematoma, cerebral contusion and various combined craniocerebral injuries, etc.

Cerebrovascular disease: cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral arteriovenous malformation, etc.

Degenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Pick's disease, etc.

Epilepsy General or systemic disease

Hypoxia: suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, etc.;

Metabolic diseases: hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, phenylketonuria, uremia, etc.;

Endocrine diseases: hypoparathyroidism, insulinoma, etc.

Cardiovascular diseases: Adams-Stokes syndrome, hypertensive encephalopathy, etc.

Toxic diseases: organophosphorus poisoning, certain heavy metal poisoning, etc.;

Others: such as blood system diseases, rheumatic diseases, eclampsia, etc.