SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

SYMPTOMS OF EPILEPSY

Repeated seizures are the main symptom of epilepsy.
Seizure symptoms vary from person to person and may include:

Appearing confused or in a haze

Periods of rapid eye blinking or staring

Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs

Stiffening of the body

Loss of consciousness or awareness

Breathing problems or breathing stops

Loss of bowel or bladder control

Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness

Not responding to noise or words for brief periods

Nodding the head rhythmically, when associated with loss of awareness or even loss of consciousness

Psychic symptoms such as fear, anxiety or déjà vu

WHAT CAUSES EPILEPSY?

For 6 out of 10 people with epilepsy, the cause can’t be determined. This is called Idiopathic epilepsy. We know that genetics play an important role. Seizures or epilepsy can also be caused by anything that causes damage to the brain, including:

Head injury or trauma
Stroke or brain haemorrhage
Brain infection or inflammation, such as in meningitis, encephalitis or a brain abscess
Brain malformations or tumours

Brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease
Chronic alcohol or drug use
Genetic factors
High or low blood sugar and other biochemical imbalances

Did you know?

The word ‘epilepsy’ is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘to be seized, or to be overwhelmed by surprise’.

WHAT CAUSES A SEIZURE?

For many people a seizure just happens.
However, certain triggers can make seizures more likely.

Common triggers can include:

Missed medication
Too much alcohol
Lack of sleep
Stress
Illnesses or fevers

Everyone is different and what affects one person may have no effect on another.

TYPES OF SEIZURES

There are many different types of seizures, but they can be grouped into two broad categories. Doctors generally classify seizures as either focal or generalised, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins. Generalised seizures affect the whole brain. Focal, or partial seizures, affect just one part of the brain.

Focal seizures
These seizures involve abnormal activity in just one part of your brain. You may lose consciousness, or you may stay alert when you have them.

Without loss of consciousness: These seizures may just change your emotions, or alter your sense of sight, smell, taste, or sound. You might also jerk an arm or a leg without meaning to, or feel tingling, dizziness, or see flashing lights.
With loss of consciousness: During these seizures, you aren’t quite aware of your surroundings as usual. You may stare into space, or move repetitively by chewing, rubbing your hands, or walking in circles.

Generalised seizures
This type of seizure tends to involve all the parts of your brain. There are six kinds of generalized seizures:

Absence seizures happen mostly in children and involve small movements such as lip smacking or eye blinking.
Tonic seizures make you stiffen the muscles in your arms, legs, back and sometimes fall down as a result.
Atonic seizures take away your muscle control. They’re also called drop seizures, because they can make you collapse onto the floor.

Clonic seizures often make you repeat jerking movements in your neck, face, and arms.
Myoclonic seizures involve short, twitching and jerking motions in your arms and legs.
Tonic-clonic seizures, which used to be called grand-mal seizures, can make you lose consciousness, stiffen your whole body, and shake. You may also bite your tongue or lose control of your bladder.

Interesting fact

More people live with epilepsy than with autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy – combined.