EPILEPSY

Epilepsy

Epilepsy

Introduction

Seizures are episodes of sudden, excessive electrical discharges within the brain that result in alterations in consciousness and/or motor activity. Recurrent, unprovoked seizures constitute epilepsy. Seizures may be generalized or partial (also called focal).

Generalized seizures affect both hemispheres of the brain and always result in loss of consciousness, while partial seizures affect a small area of the brain and may or may not result in loss of consciousness (Winkler & Engelter 2009, pp. 1522-1525). Common types of seizures and their typical manifestations are as follows:

Generalized seizures includes:

Tonic-clonic: stiffening, convulsions, loss of consciousness, may emit a cry or sigh from air forced out of the lungs, incontinence, irregular breathing or gagging

Tonic: stiffening, loss of consciousness, may sigh or cry out

Clonic: convulsions, irregular breathing or gagging, loss of consciousness

Atonic: sudden loss of muscle tone, loss of consciousness

Absence: glazed expression, head nodding, brief (< 1 minute)

Myoclonic: sudden, powerful muscle contraction; very brief (< 1 second)

Partial seizures includes:

Simple partial: awareness is unaffected; may experience a strange smell or taste, nausea, anxiety, lip smacking, or jerking movements of an extremity

Complex partial: altered awareness, glazed expression, wandering, undressing, incoherent speech

Treatments for epilepsy include antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; e.g., phenytoin, gabapentin, valproate), neurosurgery (e.g., for removal of intracranial tumors or focal areas generating seizures), and prevention of injury (e.g., from tongue biting or falling). In some cases, implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator (i.e., a generator under the clavicle that delivers electrical signals to the brain) may be performed to reduce the incidence of seizures (Sukumaran & Thomas 2010, pp. 1351-1355). Adjuncts to treatment include education about the need for strict adherence to the antiseizure medication regimen and avoiding possible triggers of a seizure (e.g., alcohol, flashing lights, sleep deprivation), and consumption of a ketogenic diet (i.e., a high-fat, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that induces systemic ketosis, which has an antiepileptic effect on the brain).

For the sake of this paper and in order to know about the illness more closely an African teenager who was admitted due to seizures in the clinical setting was studied. The following sections will reflect the learning that was made during the course of illness of the admitted teenager.

Rationale for choosing this disease

The reason for choosing patient of Epilepsy was their growing number. This disease is spreading very rapidly and people had to be made aware about it before more people get affected by it. The patients and their families must be provided with information about the disease, prognosis, treatment options, and support groups. The patient that was admitted in the clinic was diagnosed with Epilepsy. Firstly, he was made aware about the health deviation he was having. He was told that Epilepsy results from an alteration in blood supply to the brain that leads to deprivation of oxygen and brain cell death. Strokes caused by arterial blockage are known as ischemic strokes and strokes caused by a ruptured or leaking artery are referred to as hemorrhagic strokes (Sillanpää & Shinnar 2010, pp. 2522-2529).

Stroke complications and outcomes vary based on the stroke's type and severity, the location ...