Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

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seizure disorders Abnormal discharge of electrical
activity in certain areas of the BRAIN that causes
various involuntary consequences. Most seizures
originate in areas of the cerebral cortex.
Seizure disorders may occur spontaneously
(without identifiable cause) or as a consequence
of damage to the brain such as TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY (TBI) or CEREBRAL PALSY. Among the more
common forms of seizure disorders are
• epilepsy, in which seizures are recurrent and
often frequent
• absence seizures, in which the person experiences
very brief episodes of loss of consciousness
though often is unaware they occur
• clonic–tonic seizures, in which the person loses
consciousness and there is convulsive movement
of the legs and arms
• focal seizures, in which the person may or may
not lose consciousness and the seizure affects a
specific and localized part of the body
CEPHALOGRAM (EEG), and diagnostic imaging procedures
such as COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN or
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI). The EEG typically
shows irregularities in electrical activity even
when the person is not having seizures. Because
sleep deprivation makes the brain more sensitive
to electrical activity, the neurologist may request
the person remain awake for 24 hours before the
EEG. These procedures are generally conclusive
for diagnosing seizure disorders.
Treatment Options and Outlook
Antiseizure medications are the mainstay of treatment
for seizure disorders. Often a person may
require two or more medications that have different
actions to adequately suppress inappropriate
electrical activity in the brain and prevent seizures
from occurring. Because antiseizure medications
alter the brain’s biochemistry and have potentially
serious side effects, neurologists tend not to treat a
single episode of seizure but opt instead to take an
approach of watchful waiting.
Seizures generally end within a minute and do
not themselves harm injuries may occur if a person
falls or has a seizure in a hazardous location
such as a swimming pool. There is no reason to
intervene with a person who is having a seizure,
other than for safety. Some people, especially children,
may have seizures during FEVER. Such
seizures, called febrile seizures, do not indicate the
person has a seizure disorder.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Path
Seizure disorders run the gamut from causing
barely noticeable to disabling symptoms. The diagnostic
path includes a thorough PERSONAL HEALTH
HISTORY, NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATION, ELECTROEN-
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MEDICATIONS TO TREAT SEIZURE DISORDERS
carbamazepine (Tegretol) gabapentin (Neurontin)
lamotrigine (Lamictal)
levetiracetam (Keppra)
oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) phenobarbital
phenytoin (Dilantin)
tiagabine (Gabitril)
topiramate (Topamax)
valproic acid (Depakote)
zonisamide (Zonegran)
Treatment is generally long-term, though children
may outgrow certain kinds of seizure disorders.
Medications successfully prevent seizures in
most people, though require regular monitoring to
ensure that BLOOD concentrations remain therapeutic.
Dysfunctions of the LIVER and KIDNEYS are
the most significant side effects of antiseizure