Understanding Epilepsy: Basics and Classification

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of a seizure?

A sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain causing no changes in behavior or consciousnes

A gradual, controlled burst of electrical activity in the brain resulting in muscle relaxation and altered consciousness

A rapid, controlled burst of electrical activity in the brain leading to changes in behavior and consciousness

A sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain causing involuntary muscle contractions (correct)

Which statement best describes epilepsy?

One seizure at least 24 hours apart with no known cause

One seizure without a known cause

Two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart with no known cause (correct)

Two or more seizures with a known cause

What is convulsion?

A sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body caused by involuntary muscle contractions (correct)

A gradual, irregular movement of the body caused by voluntary muscle contractions

A gradual, controlled movement of the body caused by involuntary muscle contractions

A sudden, uncontrolled movement of the body caused by voluntary muscle contractions

What is the epidemiological rank of epilepsy as a neurological disorder globally?

Fourth Signup and view all the answers

At what age group are the highest number of epilepsy cases seen?

Children (2-5 years) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mortality rate compared to the general population for individuals with epilepsy?

2 to 3 times higher than the general population Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the general population will experience at least one seizure in their lifetime?

10% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a trigger factor for seizures?

Alcohol consumption Signup and view all the answers

What type of seizures start on one side of the brain?

Focal seizures Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter imbalance can lead to seizures?

GABA and aspartate Signup and view all the answers

Which diagnostic tool tracks electrical signals from the brain?

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signup and view all the answers

What is the age-adjusted Death Rate due to epilepsy in Oman?

0.95 per 100,000 population Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seizure involves sudden loss of postural tone and falling to the ground?

Tonic seizures Signup and view all the answers

What represents a congenital cause of epilepsy?

Genetic disorders Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seizure involves staring and eye-blinking?

Absence seizures Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can contribute to an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters?

Drug overdose Signup and view all the answers

What is used to visualize active areas of the brain and detect abnormalities?

SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prevalence of epilepsy in developing countries higher due to parasitic illnesses
Epilepsy deaths in Oman (2018) reached 39, representing 0.38% of total deaths
Age-adjusted Death Rate was 0.95 per 100,000 population, ranking Oman 144th in the world
Trigger factors for seizures include drug overdose and withdrawal, brain hemorrhage, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, uremia, eclampsia, and febrile seizures
Risk factors include sleep deprivation, physical and mental exhaustion, missed doses of anti-epileptic drugs, alcohol withdrawals, recreational drug misuse, flickering lights, and intercurrent infections
Etiology of epilepsy includes inherited/genetic causes (single gene mutation, multiple genes, genetic disorders), acquired causes (head trauma, neurosurgery, cerebrovascular diseases, infections, metabolic disorders, intracranial neoplasm), congenital causes (inborn error of metabolism), and drugs that can induce seizures
Neurotransmitters play a role in seizures; imbalance between inhibitory neurotransmitters (GABA) and excitatory neurotransmitters (aspartate and gulumate) leads to seizures
Classification of seizures includes focal seizures (start on one side of the brain) and generalized seizures (start in a bilaterally distributed network)
Focal seizures have manifestations such as simple partial seizures (without impairment of consciousness, associated with motor signs, sensory and somatosensory signs, autonomic signs, and behavioral manifestations) and complex partial seizures (with impairment of consciousness, involving impaired consciousness, purposeless behaviors, aimless walking, hallucination, and aggressive behavior)
Generalized seizures have manifestations such as absence seizures (happens exclusively in children, associated with alterations of consciousness, staring, eye-blinking, enuresis), myoclonic seizures (involuntary, rhythmic jerking of facial, limb/trunk muscles), clonic seizures (rhythmic jerking movements of the arms and legs), tonic seizures (sustained muscle contractions), generalized tonic-clonic seizures (sudden loss of consciousness, rigid body, interrupted respirations, extended legs, rapid bilateral muscle jerking, heavy salivation, tongue biting, headache, confusion, lasts for one minute), and atonic seizures (sudden loss of postural tone, falling to the ground)
Diagnosis of epilepsy involves neurological examination/neuropsychological test, medical history, genetic history and testing, electroencephalogram (tracks electrical signals from the brain), CT and MRI scan (detects abnormalities in the brain), positron emission tomography (PET) (visualizes active areas of the brain and detects abnormalities), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (measures small changes in blood flow that occur in the brain). SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography) is used when MRI and EEG did not pinpoint the location in the brain where the seizures are originating.

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Description

Learn about the epidemiology, terminology, and basic pathophysiology of epilepsy. This quiz also covers the differentiation and classification of seizure types based on clinical presentation and electroencephalogram.