Epilepsy and Other Disorders
Q: Is Epilepsy related to other neurological problems?
Epilepsy is not necessarily associated with other neurological problems or learning disabilities. Occasionally, the source of the seizures may be reflected in other neurological deficits. Also, medication for seizures may cause sedations and thus decrease the rate of learning. People with Epilepsy have the same range of intelligence as the general population.
Q: Is Epilepsy related to mental illness?
Epilepsy is not related to mental illness. Because of the involvement of the brain, Epilepsy has been mistakenly associated with psychiatric disorders. Epilepsy differs from psychiatric disorders in that seizures last for very brief periods and begin and end abruptly. Further, when not having seizures, people with Epilepsy need not have any changes in their mood or behaviour.
Q: Can Epilepsy affect intelligence?
Seizures can affect intelligence, so prompt diagnosis and rapid control of seizures is important. There is also a risk if seizures are prolonged and there is a significant reduction in oxygen in the brain during seizures. However, these are extremely rare occurrences. In the case of developmentally delayed persons with Epilepsy, it is most likely that the cause of the developmental delay is also the cause of the seizures. In most cases, people with Epilepsy have normal intelligence.
Q: Is there a link between memory loss and Epilepsy?
Some people with Epilepsy do experience a difficulty in recalling distant and recent events. Often, this is caused by the medications used to treat Epilepsy, or by regular seizure activity. People affected in this way can learn to compensate by using lists and reminders, and by creating an organized environment.
Q: Is Epilepsy related to asthma?
Asthma occurs in children with Epilepsy at about the same frequency as it occurs in the general population. Likewise, the reverse is also true. The drug theophylline can trigger seizures.
Q: Are there any diseases that persons with Epilepsy more prone to?
People with Epilepsy who are on medications may experience side effects that makes them more susceptible to other diseases and disorders. One common condition is Hyperplaxia, an over-growth of the gums caused by the drug Dilantin. Other common problems are liver dysfunction and depression.
Miscellaneous
Q: Do animals get Epilepsy?
Epilepsy can occur in animals. Like humans, Epilepsy in animals is really just abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Q: Can dogs sense a seizure in humans before it strikes?
It is possible that some dogs are able to detect pre-seizure changes in the physiology of some people with Epilepsy before the person becomes aware of them. In many cases, the person with Epilepsy is aware of an aura before the onset of the main part of the seizure. Not enough is known about how dogs can detect seizures before their onset to know exactly what sense(s) are involved in this detection. However, one might hypothesize that since dogs can detect chemical changes due to fear, seizures that are preceded by a sense of fear might also produce detectable changes.
Index of Seizure Types
Abdominal Seizures Absence Seizures
Akinetic Seizures (see atonic or drop seizures) Atonic Seizures
Aura Autonomic Seizures
Bilateral Myoclonus Seizures (see myoclonus seizures)
Catamenial Seizures Clonic Seizures Complex Partial Seizures
Drop Seizures
Emotional Seizures
Febrile Seizures Focal Seizures
Gelastic Seizures Grand Mal Seizures
Infantile Spasms
Jacksonian Seizures
Laflora Disease Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Motor Seizures Multi-focal Seizures (see focal seizures)
Musicogenic Seizures Myoclonic Seizures
Neonatal Seizures Nocturnal Seizures
Petit Mal Seizures Photosensitive Seizures Prolonged Seizures
Pseudo Seizures Psychogenic Seizures Psychomotor Seizures
Reflex Seizures Rolandic Epilepsy
Secondarily Generalized Seizures Sensory Seizures
Simple Partial Seizures Status Epilepticus Subtle Seizures
Sylvan Seizures
Temporal Lobe Seizures Tonic Seizures Tonic-Clonic Seizures
Visual Seizures
Withdrawal Seizures
Important Facts to Remember
Although seizures look different they have certain things in common:
During a seizure, a person stop breathing for only a few seconds.
Most seizures only last 1-2 minutes, although the person may be confused for a long time afterwards.
The brain almost always stops the seizures safely and naturally.
Once a seizure has begun, you cannot stop it — just let it run its course.
Only in emergencies, doctors use drugs to bring a non-stop seizure to an end.
People don’t feel pain during a seizure, although muscles might be sore afterwards.
Seizures are usually not life threatening, but the risk is increased in seniors by the extra strain on the heart, the possibility of injury, or a reduced intake of oxygen.
Seizures are not dangerous to others.
Seizures are not contagious.
