This article reviews information from a 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) report titled "Neurological Illness: Public Health Challenges".
Definition of Epilepsy
WHO defines Epilepsy as "a disorder of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures, and by the neurological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition. The definition of Epilepsy requires the occurrence of at least one epileptic seizure . . . [which is defined as] a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain."
This means that a person can be considered to have Epilepsy once he has had an epileptic seizure. A seizure may result from a brain injury, chemical toxins, or medication side effects (such as Lithium or Wellbutrin). Withdrawal from alcohol after addiction may also cause seizures.
Causes of Seizures: Thresholds
Each person with Epilepsy has a differing likelihood of seizure; there is a certain threshold of abnormal brain activity which will cause him to have a seizure. This "threshold" is individual, and seizure medications work by raising the threshold of the individual, or making it more difficult for a seizure to occur.
Threshold changes throughout the day, and hormones may make it easier or more difficult for an individual to have a seizure, which is why seizures may become more likely in different stages of a woman's menstrual cycle.
Stimulant drugs, such as caffeine or amphetamines, lower the threshold, and make seizures more likely. Sedative drugs, such as benzodiazepines (common antidepressants), make seizures less likely. However, if a person is addicted to the sedatives, he may suffer seizures during withdrawal.
Causes of Seizures: Neurological Abnormality
Many people with Epilepsy have Symptomatic Epilepsy, which means that there is a brain defect which is associated with their seizures. This abnormality may result from a number of causes, such as vascular disturbances, scars from trauma, or cerebral metabolic disorders.
The most common injury for Symptomatic Epilepsy is hippocampal scarring, which results in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. This may result from a cerebral injury in the first few days of life for individuals with a genetic predisposition to the disease.
Some people have what is called Idiopathic Epilepsy, in which there is no clear neurological abnormality. These individuals have Epilepsy as a result of a genetic condition, and are easily treated with medication.
Causes of Seizures: Precipitating Condition
Some common environmental causes of Epilepsy include childhood diseases with high fevers, alcohol and drug withdrawal, sleep deprivation, and for some individuals, stress.
For some patients, flickering light may cause a seizure, while for others the cause may be anything from a type of music to a hot bath.
Treatment of Epilepsy
Treatment for Epilepsy depends on the type of Epilepsy, the area of onset, and the health of the person. Ten percent of the population will experience a seizure at some time during their life, but the seizure will not recur.
Most patients with Idiopathic Epilepsy can be treated by medication, while those with Symptomatic Epilepsy may require some form of surgery for remission. Neuroimaging technology is improving care for those with Epilepsy.
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