diagnosis of epilepsy – Medsparkles (SMC-Pvt) Limited

What is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized mainly by recurrent seizures.Seizures are abnormal electrical conductivity of brain signals and it is a Hallmark of epilepsy. Types of Epilepsy There are mainly two types of Epilepsy including :1.Generlizaed epilepsy2.Localized epilepsy 1) Generalized epilepsy The whole brain or a complete parts of brain possess abnormal electrical activity andgeneralized symptoms are generated. 2) Localized epilepsy or focal epilepsy The part of brain is involved in epilepsy.Sometimes localized epilepsy is transformed into generalized epilepsy and it hence called assecondary form of generalized epilepsy. Drugs used for epilepsy There are mainly two classes of antiepileptic drugs:1.Narrow Spectrum - Targets only a specific channels. e:g Ca+ channel blockers.Calcium channel blockers: Ethosuximide2.Broad spectrum - These drugs may produce several mechanisms at once.a. Sodium channel blockers - Phenytoinb. GABA enhancersc. Potassium channel blockersd. SV2A modifiers Diagnosis of epilepsy Medical History: The doctor will take a detailed medical history, including the patient's account ofseizures, any family history of epilepsy, and any other relevant medical conditions. Witnesses tothe seizures may also provide valuable information.Neurological Examination: A neurological exam will be performed to check the patient’s brainand nervous system, looking for abnormalities in motor skills, behavior, and cognitive function.Electroencephalogram (EEG): An EEG is a primary tool used in diagnosing epilepsy. It recordsthe electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. An abnormal EEGshowing specific patterns can support a diagnosis of epilepsy.Imaging Tests:Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI scan provides detailed images of the brain’sstructure and can help identify any physical abnormalities, such as tumors or structural issues,that might be causing the seizures.Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: A CT scan can detect structural problems in the brain, suchas bleeding, cysts, or tumors.Blood Tests: Blood tests may be done to rule out other conditions that can cause seizures, suchas infections, electrolyte imbalances, or genetic disorders.Video-EEG Monitoring: In some cases, long-term video-EEG monitoring is used to capture aseizure as it happens. This can provide detailed information about the seizure’s characteristicsand origin in the brain.Neuropsychological Tests: These tests assess memory, thinking, and speech, helping todetermine how epilepsy affects these areas and identifying the regions of the brain involved inseizures.Functional MRI (fMRI): Sometimes used to measure brain activity by detecting changesassociated with blood flow, fMRI can help in planning surgery for epilepsy treatment byidentifying critical brain areas.Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography(SPECT): These imaging techniques can help locate areas of the brain where seizuresoriginate.

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