Conditions InDepth: Epilepsy
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA Epilepsy causes brief changes in the electrical activity of the brain. Clumps of nerve cells in the brain (neurons) message each other in a way that is not normal. These are called seizures. The neurons fire as many as 500 times per second instead of about 80 times per second. This can cause strange feelings, emotions, and actions. It can also cause shaking, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.
The diagnosis is made after a person has a seizure more than one time without a cause that could have been prevented. Epilepsy may be from:
In many people, the cause is not known.
References:Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115086/Epilepsy-in-adults. Updated November 9, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019. Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.... Updated March 22, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019. Epilepsy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Epilepsy-Information-Page.
Updated June 18, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The epilepsies: the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary care. NICE 2012 Jan:CG137. Seizure disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated November 2018. Accessed April 3, 2019. What is epilepsy? Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated January 21, 2014. Accessed April 3, 2019. Last reviewed March 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 4/3/2019 |
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