Epilepsy Research Paper

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Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the nervous system. Some of the symptoms of epilepsy are periodic or reoccurring seizures which are triggered by sudden episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Approximately 30% of the 200,000 new cases reported every year begin in childhood particularly around the time of adolescence (Marshall). Another period of relatively high incidences is in people over 65 years old (Marshall). During a seizure many nerve cells with a specific region of the brain may begin to fire at the same time. Activity like this can spread out over other parts of the brain. The seizures can bring on many emotions ranging from anger fear and rage to happiness. During a seizure people may experience disorientation spontaneous …show more content…
A partial seizure doesn’t spread from the focal area from which they arise. The symptoms for a partial seizure are determined by the part of the brain affected. The patient normally remains conscious during the seizure and can later describe it in detail. A complex seizure starts off as a simple seizure but move beyond the focal area and cause lass of consciousness. A complex partial seizure can also become major motor seizures. Some signals of a complex partial seizure are distinctive smell, taste or other unusual sensation. There are also generalized seizures which last about two minutes and are the result of irregular electrical activity that spreads out over both sides of the brain. Some other type of seizure is a complex and simple, a complex seizure is usually involves a loss of consciousness, where as a simple seizure doesn’t. A simple partial seizure can begin as a restricted seizure and then evolve into a secondary generalized event which the initial abnormal electrical movement spreads to other parts of the brain. An absence seizure results in brief periods of lack of awareness and some abnormal muscle movements …show more content…
Although diagnosis epilepsy syndrome is much more complex, first in the evaluation process is to obtain a very detailed history of the illness, not only from the patients but from the family as well. The second step is to complete a physical examination especially a neurological exam. Another diagnosis is tests, which can be an MRI, PET which the scans can give physicians a view of the activity abnormalities that can help areas of the brain. Blood tests are also taken for abnormalities that could be a factor in the cause of

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