Epilepsy

Epilepsy may be best simply described as a sudden temporary disturbance of brain function sometimes accompanied by altered states of consciousness and violent seizures or convulsions. It is caused by a malfunction of the electrical activity of the neurons of the brain. The cause of epilepsy is not clear but there is a clear nexus between epilepsy and head trauma

There are various stages of epilepsy. An early stage is known as an aura although this is not always experienced in an epileptic episode. An aura describes sensory symptoms such as ringing in the ears or seeing spots before the eyes. Following the aura is the seizure that is known as the ictus, a.k.a. a convulsion. The convulsion stage varies depending on the type of epileptic seizure suffered. Convulsion signs may vary from loss of consciousness to a staring spell. The time between the epileptic episode and return to normal consciousness is referred to as the postictal stage. Epileptic seizures fall into various categories that are described according to their symptoms and frequency; however the most common form is referred to as generalized seizures

Generalized seizures result from abnormal electrical disorders affecting the entire cerebrum. There are numerous forms of generalized epilepsy but this type includes two of the most common posttraumatic forms: petit mal and grand mal epilepsy. Petit mal epilepsy is the most common form of generalized epilepsy seen in children. It is rare in adults. Seizures can occur infrequently or as many times as several hundred per day. In this form there is no loss of consciousness, only a brief alteration in consciousness. Grand Mal epilepsy is the most common type of generalized seizure. This is sometimes referred to as tonic/clonic type. In this type of seizure a profound and abrupt loss of consciousness occurs along with contractions of large muscle groups that extend the arms and legs and arch the back, resulting in violent spasms or jerks of the whole body