Epilepsy - what kind of illness is it?

Many of us have not even heard of such a disease as epilepsy. What is this ailment and what are the symptoms for it? In this article, you will learn the answers to the most important questions regarding this disease.

Epilepsy - what is it?

This is called a chronic brain disease caused by excessive hypersynchronous discharge of cortical neurons. Around 1% of the world suffers from this pathology. Most often, the disease manifests itself in adolescence and childhood. Most patients can socially adapt, participate in public life, work.

Kinds

Idiopathic

This form of the disease becomes noticeable at an early age. It is characterized by convulsive attacks. At the same time, no intellectual disorders and changes in MRI are observed. With anticonvulsant therapy, positive dynamics are possible. However, spontaneous remissions can often occur. Idiopathic epilepsy is inherited, the probability of a child with a pathology is 10%.

Symptomatic

This type of disease occurs as a result of organic damage to the brain. It can occur even during intrauterine development. As a rule, the causes of this pathology are the following: fetal hypoxia, infectious diseases, birth trauma, cortical dysplasia, developmental defects of the brain, toxemia of pregnancy. In a newborn, epilepsy may occur after traumatic brain injury, neurointoxication, arteriovenous malformation, stroke. Symptomatic symptoms are characterized by seizures associated with loss of consciousness.

Symptoms

To answer the question "epilepsy - what is this?" Is impossible without specifying the main symptoms of this ailment. The attack of the disease, as a rule, begins with the fact that a person falls to the floor, issuing a sharp cry. His eyes are fixed, they look forward or rotate. As a result of the fact that all the muscles of the body contract, the person's hands contract, and the entire body convulsively jerks. Usually, the attack begins suddenly, and the patient simply does not have time to take precautions: gently lie down or warn others. Cyanotic face, tilting the head, cramps, waving his arms, flexing his legs - all these conditions cause epilepsy. Neurology, studying this disease, points to the fact that during an attack a person is able to temporarily "disconnect" from reality. So do not try to stop the cramps by force.

Some recommendations

With the onset of an attack of epilepsy , make sure that the patient can not harm himself. Remove from it pressing clothes, turn it on its side and make sure that there is nothing in the mouth that can cause choking. Typically, the attack lasts a few minutes.

Treatment

Understanding the question of epilepsy - what it is, one should consider the main points in the therapy of this pathology. After a comprehensive diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the most appropriate ways and means of treatment. In addition to drugs, psychotherapy, hypnosis and other methods are used to reduce the number of seizures.