Epilepsy (patient information)

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How do I know if I have epilepsy and what are the symptoms of epilepsy?

Symptoms vary depending on the seizure types, from simple staring spells to loss of consciousness and violent convulsions. In most cases, the patient with epilepsy tends to have the same type of seizure each time.

• Temporary confusion
• A staring spell
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Complete loss of consciousness

Who is at risk for epilepsy?

• Head injuries
• Stroke and other vascular diseases
• Brain tumors
• Brain infections, such as meningitis, encephalitis
• Brain poisoning, such as alcohol
• High fevers in childhood
• Dystocia when born
• A family history of epilepsy
• Male

How to know you have epilepsy?

The goal of the following tests is to identify the cause of your epilepsy.

• Neurological physical exam: Your doctor may ask your some conditions on your born, your growth and any head injuries. And, neurological physical exam is needed to detect the possible cause of elilepsy.
• Blood tests: This is used to check for signs of infections or poisoning.
• Neuropsychological tests: These tests includes IQ, memory and speech assessments, which help doctors detect the cause of the seizures.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG): This is the most common test to diagnose epilepsy. It can record the abnormal electrical activity of your brain. The test can help your doctor know what kind of seizures you're having.
• Computerized tomography (CT): CT scan is also a commmon test for patients with seizure. It can help doctors differentiate the causes of the epilepsy, including brain tumor, trauma, cysts or stroke.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI scan uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces more detailed images of the body. in the same manner, MRI scan can reveal brain abnormalities that could be the seizures cause.

When to seek urgent medical care?

If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:

• First seizure
• A longer seizure than before
• Frequently seizures
• Status epilepticus

Where to find medical care for epilepsy?

Directions to Hospitals Treating epilepsy

Copyleft Sources

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/epilepsy.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/epilepsy.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/epilepsy/DS00342

http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/epilepsy.html

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/default.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000694.htm