About Epilepsy and Seizures
Teaching epilepsy awareness in your class is an excellent way to enrich your curriculum. In this section, you’ll find comprehensive information to help you quickly understand many of the basics.
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Epilepsy 101
Defining epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disorder in which people experience repeated seizures. It is a condition that affects the electrical activity of the brain, making a person likely to have seizures.
Seizures
A seizure is the result of a sudden disruption of orderly communication among nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. This disruption can lead to a number of symptoms, which vary depending on where the disruption occurs in the brain and where the abnormal electrical activity spreads. For instance, the symptoms of a partial seizure might only be tingling in a finger, while a generalized seizure (years ago referred to as a grand mal) can cause a daydreaming-like effect or a loss of consciousness, along with uncontrollable jerking motions.
Not everything that looks like a seizure is a seizure
It’s true, and not every seizure is related to epilepsy. Simply put, a student with epilepsy is prone to having repeated seizures—but, someone who has just one seizure may not have epilepsy. Non-epileptic seizures can be caused by a number of things, including:
- Low blood sugar
- Fainting
- Heart disease
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- Stress or anxiety
- Stroke
- Drug and alcohol withdrawal
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In the end, the more you understand about seizures, the better prepared you will be to recognize one and respond appropriately.
Epilepsy is more common than you know
The latest estimates report that around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. In general, it is a disorder that can affect nearly anyone, regardless of race or gender. However, it is more commonly seen in children and older adults. In fact, a very high percentage of people with epilepsy experience their first seizure before they turn 20.
Not all seizures are alike
There are numerous types of seizures, which fall into two broad categories—generalized seizures and partial seizures. Generalized seizures affect the whole brain and cause a loss of consciousness. Partial seizures initially affect only part of the brain, and consciousness may or may not be affected.
Evolved terminology
Additional definitions are available by clicking any word that is in green, or by visiting the Epilepsy Glossary page.
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Types of Seizures
Tonic-clonic seizures
This is the type of seizure most people associate with epilepsy. A generalized tonic-clonic seizure often begins without warning. It involves a sudden stiffness of the body, followed by muscle contractions or jerking motions. There may also be changes in blood pressure, an increase in saliva, and loss of bladder control. This type of seizure has a high risk of injury due to the potential for falling to the ground and the sometimes violent jerking movements.
Absence seizure
Absence seizures often occur in young children and are commonly mistaken for daydreaming. An absence seizure involves a brief disruption of consciousness—lasting from a few seconds to about half a minute. Typically, this seizure starts suddenly: the student stops what he or she is doing and stares blankly. This student’s eyes may roll upwards briefly before this event and then the episode disappears as quickly as it came. There is usually a loss of awareness for a few seconds. For example, you may call the student’s name, and he or she won’t respond. Absence seizures can happen many times a day.
Atonic seizures
Sometimes known as a "drop attack," atonic seizures cause a sudden loss of muscle tone. This may result in the dropping of the head or a limb, or lead a student to fall to the ground. There also may be a brief loss of consciousness. Because the student may fall to the ground, there is a risk of injury.
Myoclonic
Myoclonic seizures are one of the most common types of seizures, typically affecting children and young adults. A myoclonic seizure involves a sudden contraction of muscles and can appear as a jerk of one or both arms or sometimes the head. Myoclonic seizures may cause just a single jerk or several jerking movements. Generally, the seizure is so brief that although the student loses consciousness, he or she may appear conscious. While myoclonic seizures are common, you may be less likely to see them in the classroom as they often happen while falling asleep or within a short time of waking up.
Simple partial seizures
In this type of seizure, an electrical disturbance starts in one half (or hemisphere) of the brain, so the student may experience symptoms like twitching, numbness, dizziness, or disturbances to their senses. In a simple partial seizure, the student will remain conscious. Be aware that partial seizures can spread to involve both hemispheres of the brain. The resulting seizure would be categorized as "secondarily generalized."
Complex partial seizures
Like a partial seizure, a complex partial seizure starts in one hemisphere of the brain, and can spread to areas that involve consciousness. When there is an altered state of consciousness at the onset of the event, the student may experience a change in awareness and may seem confused. A common symptom is tugging at clothing; the student may seem conscious but it is important to remember that he or she is completely unaware of their actions.
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Warning Signs, Triggers, and Treatment
Warning signs
Some people with epilepsy can detect when a seizure is coming. This sensation has been called an “aura,” and can take many forms. Examples of auras can include a feeling of pins and needles or a strange taste or smell. The problem is, the odd feelings that can precede a seizure are also very similar to what happens during a simple partial seizure. This means that the aura sensation could actually be the seizure. Because of this, many healthcare professionals are starting to veer away from the term "aura."
What can trigger a seizure?
Different things can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. Seizures can be triggered by many factors, including:
- Missing a dose of medication
- Tiredness
- Missing meals
- Taking illicit drugs
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- Increased stress level
- Flashing lights
- Drinking alcohol
- Overheating or overexertion (hyperthermia)
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Treating epilepsy
Epilepsy is most often treated with medications known as anti-epileptic drugs or AEDs, which are commonly prescribed by a primary care physician, an epileptologist, or a neurologist. Surgery and even specially prescribed diets, such as the ketogenic diet, can also be used to control seizures.
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