EPILEPSY

 

 

 

 

 

 

what is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition of the nervous system, It can be scary watching someone have an epileptic seizure. The person may lose consciousness or seem unaware of what's going on, make involuntary motions (movements the person has no control over, such as jerking or thrashing one or more parts of the body), or experience unusual feelings or sensations (such as unexplained fear). After a seizure, he or she may feel tired, weak, or confused.
People have seizures when the electrical signals in the brain misfire. The brain's normal electrical activity is disrupted by these overactive electrical discharges, causing a temporary communication problem between nerve cells.
Just because someone has a seizure does not necessarily mean that person has epilepsy, though. Seizures can be triggered in anyone under certain conditions, such as life-threatening dehydration or high temperature.
But when a person experiences repeated seizures for no obvious reason,
that person is said to have epilepsy.
Many people develop epilepsy as children or teens. Others develop it later in life.
For some people with epilepsy (particularly kids), the seizures eventually become
less frequent or disappear altogether.

What Causes Epilepsy?

• a brain injury, such as from a car crash or bike accident
• an infection or illness that affected the developing brain of a fetus during pregnancy
• lack of oxygen to an infant's brain during childbirth
• meningitis, encephalitis, or any other type of infection that affects the brain
• brain tumors or strokes
• poisoning, such as lead or alcohol poisoning

Living With Epilepsy

• Stay calm.
• Help, but don't force, the person to lie down on his or her side, preferably on a soft surface, and place something soft under the person's head.
• Take the person's glasses or backpack off and loosen any tight clothing near the neck.
• Don't restrain or hold the person.
• Move objects, especially sharp or hard ones, away from the person.
• Stay with the person or make sure another friend or trusted person stays with him or her.
• Talk with the person in a calm, reassuring way after the seizure is over.
• Observe the event and be able to describe what happened before, during, and after the seizure.
• Do not place an object into the person's mouth during a seizure.