Epilepsy is a disordered response of a group of brain neurons characterized by an abrupt decrease in the level of consciousness and by the existence of seizures. This is usually the case, but there are other, less dramatic and more complex types of epilepsy.
The causes of epilepsy may be various. The most frequent is an alteration of a group of neurons located in the so-called deep temporal area of the brain known as mesial sclerosis. It appears in children or young adults.
Head injuries with cerebral contusion can also cause some type of epilepsy. When it appears in middle age, the first cause to rule out is a brain tumor.
Symptoms of epilepsy
As well as the causes, the symptoms of epilepsy are very varied. These can range from small absences or lack of attention, which sometimes go almost unnoticed, to loss of consciousness with falling to the floor and convulsions of the extremities. There is then a state known as post-critical, in which the patient is disoriented, does not remember what has happened and there may even be some loss of strength in the limbs.
Living with epilepsy is the slavery of being dependent on taking pills every day, having extensive social, sports and even work limitations and serious risk of driving vehicles. In generalized or grand mal epilepsies there is also the risk of suffering a strong traumatism, even at home, due to sudden loss of consciousness and fall to the ground.
Treatment of epilepsy
Before starting a treatment with medication, a very complete neurological study with electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging and even a hospital admission of the patient to make a video of 1 to 3 days to record the crises while the electroencephalogram is done.
If no brain lesion is observed that needs to be operated and removed, treatment is with medication. However, there is a group of patients, about 10-20%, who do not respond to medication and then surgical removal of the brain area that causes epilepsy is considered if it can be done without leaving sequelae.