Epilepsy
Epilepsy (seizure disorder): When nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses at a rate of up to four times higher than normal, this causes a sort of electrical storm in the brain, known as a seizure. A pattern of repeated seizures is referred to as epilepsy. Known causes include head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, maldevelopment of the brain, genetic and infectious illnesses. But in fully half of cases, no cause can be found. Medication controls seizures for the majority of patients.
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- Epilepsy, Jacksonian
Epilepsy, Jacksonian:A brief alteration in movement, sensation or nerve function caused by abnormal electrical activity in a localized area of the brain. Seizures of this type typically cause no change in awareness or alertness. They are transient, fleeting, ephemeral. Jacksonian seizures are extremely varied and may involve, for example, apparently purposeful movements such as turning […]
- Epilepsy, grand mal
Epilepsy, grand mal: Epilepsy that includes tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, which are the most obvious type of seizure. There are two parts to a tonic-clonic seizure. In the tonic phase, the body becomes rigid, and in the clonic phase, there is uncontrolled jerking. A tonic-clonic seizure may or may not be preceded by an aura, […]
- Epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic
Epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic: A form of epilepsy that occurs in young people, most commonly in the teenage years. It is characterized by jerking (myoclonic) movements of the arms and upper torso, without loss of consciousness. Seizures are most likely to occur when a person is awakening from sleep. Many children with this disorder are sensitive […]
- Epilepsy, partial
Epilepsy, partial: A seizure that affects only one part of the brain. Symptoms will depend on which part is affected: one part of the body, or multiple body parts confined to one side of the body, may start to twitch uncontrollably. Partial epilepsy seizures may involve head turning, eye movements, lip smacking, mouth movements, drooling, […]
- Epilepsy, temporal-lobe
Epilepsy, temporal-lobe: Epilepsy that is characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the temporal lobe of the brain. This activity does not cause grand mal seizures; rather, it causes unusual behaviors and patterns of cognition. Temporal lobe epilepsy may, for example, cause sudden outbursts of unexpected aggression or agitation, or it may be characterized by aura-like […]