Content Starts Here
Epileptic attacks
Reviewed by Dr Anthony Marson, lecturer in neurology
Other generalised types of attacks
Myoclonic: short, symmetrical twitches of the arms and legs - similar to those which most people experience as they fall asleep. Myoclonic seizures usually occur in the morning within an hour or so of waking.
Atonic attacks: in this type of attack, the muscles suddenly relax causing the person to fall to the ground. Often injuries to the head or face result.
What are epilepsy syndromes?
So far, we have concentrated on different types of epileptic attacks. It is important to remember that epilepsy is not a single condition but a group of conditions.
In order to get a better understanding of epilepsy, for example cause and prognosis, the different types of epilepsy have been categorised into syndromes. In other words, patients who are similar with respect to the following are grouped together:
Examples of partial epilepsy syndromes
It is important to be able to categorise, where possible, the epilepsy syndrome that the patient has, as this will influence the choice of treatment and the eventual outcome.
If no lesion is found then the epilepsy is referred to as cryptogenic. For the symptomatic epilepsies, prognosis depends largely upon the pathology that the epilepsy is symptomatic of.
Rolandic epilepsy
In this condition, there are usually localised abnormal muscle movements (focal motor attacks) affecting one side of the face, usually at night, accompanied by guttural noises and over production of saliva.
The victim is awake during the attack which might progress to a secondary generalised tonic clonic seizure. The electroencephalogram (EEG) shows characteristic focal spikes in the motor area. The prognosis is always good. Most people have only a few attacks, and they stop by the age of 15. Some degree of reading difficulty may occur, but intelligence is normal.
Examples of generalised epilepsy syndromes
In these two syndromes, absence seizures are experienced. Not surprisingly, childhood absence epilepsy has its onset in childhood, and juvenile absence epilepsy in the teenage years. Both are accompanied by characteristic EEG changes, 'spike waves' in the tracing occurring about three times per second.
Around 70 to 80 per cent gain control of the attacks on treatment, which can usually be withdrawn in the later teenage years without seizure recurrence.
Some children will go on to develop other generalised seizure types. They usually have normal intelligence.
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
It is thought to represent 5 to 10 per cent of all cases among young people and adults. Patients experience myoclonic seizure, particularly within an hour or so of waking. The majority will also experience tonic clonic seizures, and about a third will experience absence seizures. The EEG will usually show photosensitivity, ie extra activity when looking at the light. Seizures are often precipitated by sleep deprivation or alcohol.
This is termed an idiopathic partial epilepsy, and may well be largely genetically determined.
This is another idiopathic generalised epilepsy that typically starts in the teenage years.
<<Go To Page 1
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use
© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved
StayQuit is a medically proven smoking cessation programme that gives you the tools you need to quit smoking for good.
Font size
Mail
My account
Help
Community
Print now
Send to a friend
Related articles
Related products
