Question 1

what is epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Risk for seizures: Epilepsy is a clinical condition of a risk for seizures.  Most common  is symptomatic epilepsy in which a scar focus or metabolic disorder or genetic condition is the cause.  Many epilepsies are called ideopathic because no definite cause can be found.  Detailed history, thorough neurological examination, eeg, brain imaging, and genetic and metabolic evaluations may be appropriate.

Question 2

what is bitemporal epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Both sides: Epilepsy where seizures arise from both temporal lobes in a person. (Not typically at the same time.)

Question 3

what is petit mal epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Petit mal: Petit mal (Fr. 'little illness) or absence seizures are forms which are characterized by a brief alteration of consciousness, and usually not followed by the post-ictal phase (sleepiness). It can appear as if the person is 'staring into space' and can be quite subtle.

Question 4

what is benign rolandic epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Common condition: About 1 percent of all children will have symptoms of benign focal seizures.  The eeg will show focal polyphasic discharges in the central-temporal region of the brain, and the child is otherwise normal.  Events often occur from sleep.  Common age is from 5 years to 12 years.  Most are outgrown.  There are many names but very similar symptoms.

Question 5

what is idiopathic generalised epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Terminology: Generalized epilepsy refers to seizure activity that affects the entire brain such as a full blown tonic-clonic convulsion.  Idiopathic is term for unknown etiology.  But all seizures are caused by abnormal brain function, and there is always some underlying explanation. Just that it is hard to pin down in many situations.

Question 6

what is treatment for epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Many options: Classification of seizures, then epilepsy syndrome-depend on age of onset , is it genetic or secondary to trauma, tumours, stroke, vascular malformation---
treatment depends on underlying cause from surgery, to avoiding some precipitating factors, medications we have around 14 good ones , vagal nerve stimulation, removal of seizure focus.

Question 7

what is a good epilepsy treatment?

Accepted Answer

Meds: Typically medications will be used first.  There are a handful of medications that would potentially work well.  Depending on where the seizures originate from, surgery could also be an option.  But an extensive workup is typically done before you get to that point.  Other options can potentially include a special type of diet or an implantable device.  discuss this with your neurologist.

Question 8

what is frontal lobe epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe seizure: Frontal lobe epilepsy (fle) refers to epilepsy where the seizure focus is located in the frontal lobes. Because the frontal lobes are involved in so many functions the symptoms of fle can be very varied and can include motor, emotional and cognitive symptoms. Fle can also be difficult to diagnose. See http://www.Epilepsy.Com/epilepsy/epilepsy_frontallobe for more information.

Question 9

what is juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

A form of epilepsy..: Usually seen in adolescents - described as involuntary spasms (or jerking) of an upper extremity (such as flinging a comb or a toothbrush) which may, about 1/4 of the time, also demonstrate generalized seizures later in life. Most do not, however. Usually worse in kids that are overly fatigued (e.g. Staying up late/poor sleep) and can sometimes be attributed to "typical teen behavior".

Question 10

what is the cause of epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Many causes: Some unknown, usually attributed to some type of insult to the developing brain in childhood, like mom using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy, or a vascular insult during pregnancy , or trauma after birth through adulthood.

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What is epilepsy

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What is epilepsy?

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What is idiopathic generalised epilepsy?

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