Recurring, inexplicable seizures characterise the neurological disorder known as epilepsy. An electrical surge in the brain that is not typical causes a seizure. When a person experiences two or more seizures without any apparent trigger, a medical professional may suspect epilepsy.

Causes

Seizures or epilepsy can be brought on by any condition that results in brain damage.

• Trauma or injury to the head
• Brain haemorrhage/stroke (bleed)
• A condition characterised by infection or inflammation of the brain, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or a brain abscess
• Abnormalities in the brain (like tumours), disorders of the brain (like Alzheimer’s)
• Habitual drug or alcohol abuse
• Biochemical discords such swings in blood sugar levels

Symptoms

• A lapse in consciousness that lasts for a short while.
• Weakness in the muscles, jerking motions, and loss of muscle tone
• Blank stare
• Confusion, mental slowdown, speech and comprehension difficulties are all temporary.
• A loss of sensation or a shift in how your senses work.
• Challenges in conveying ideas or receiving them.
• Feeling queasy, hot or cold waves, and tingly chills.
• Actions using the lips, the teeth, the hands, and the fingers.
• Psychic feelings include dread, anxiety, or a sense of déjà vu.
• An increased rate of heartbeat and/or respiration.

Diagnosis

• EEG
• MRI
• CT

Treatment

Epilepsy treatment options include antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), dietary modification, and surgical intervention.