Epilepsy

Facts on the Condition

General description including
types, causes, prevalence, signs and symptoms

Epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder in every country in the world. Current estimates suggest that over 142,000 Victorians will have epilepsy before the age of 70 (approximately 3% of the population).

Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurrent seizures. A seizure occurs as a result of a sudden, usually brief, excessive electrical discharge in a group of brain cells. Seizures can vary from person to person. A seizure can consist of any of the following: a blank stare, tremors or jerks, a convulsion with a total loss of consciousness, strange feelings and sensations, unusual tastes, lip-smacking and chewing, visual disturbances, aimless wandering, fiddling with clothes or objects. These behaviours and how they present all relate back to the area of the brain from which the seizure is originating.

Some special types of syndromes begin, or only occur in childhood. They include Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, absence seizures, benign rolandic epilepsy and reflex epilepsy. Some types of childhood seizures are benign, meaning the child will grow out of them and their development and intellect will be normal. However, some types are more serious and are associated with other problems.

Treatments, including role of specialists,
effects of treatments, use of devices, daily routines

A variety of anti epileptic drugs (AED) are available and used in the treatment of epilepsy. Up to 80% of people will achieve good seizure control with AED therapy. More complex management is required for some, and this often consists of multiple medications. Some of those who do not respond well to AED therapies will be offered treatments such as surgery.

Ideally a paediatric neurologist (a doctor who specialises in the nervous system and associated diseases in children), whose specialty is epilepsy (an epileptologist), should be consulted. This is particularly important in the early stages of diagnosis. Usually, there will be ongoing 3-6 months appointments. It is important that the child’s general practitioner is also involved.