EPILEPSY is a recurrent paroxysmal cerebral dysrhythmia with abnormal paroxysmal neuronal discharge in the brain, with or without fit.
1. Idiopathic. No. specific cause is present and no pathologic change is present.
2. Symptomatic or Secondary.
CAUSES OF SYMPTOMATIC OR SECONDARY EPILEPSY
General causes
Poisons
Alcohol, cocaine, cardiazole, picrotoxin, lead, organophosphorus compounds (insecticides) etc.
Metabolic Disturbances
Uraemia (Renal failure), cholaemia (Hepatic encephalopathy), ecclampsia, hypo and hyperglycaemia, porphyria, pyridoxine deficiency.
Cerebral Anoxia
Asphyxia, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide poisoning, heart block.
Allergy
Asthma or related conditions.
Undetermined causes
Teething, fever, helminthic infestation.
Infection and infestations
Cerebral malaria, tetanus, AIDS.
Degenerative
Alzheimer’s disease.
Local causes
Vascular lesions
Cerebrovascular disease such as cerebral thrombosis, haemorrhage, cerebral embolism, hypertensive encephalopathy.
Trauma
Birth injury, head injury
Space occupying lesions
Cerebral tumours, abscess, subdural haematoma.
Inflammatory
Encephalitis, meningitis, general paralysis of insane, meningovascular syphilis etc.
Congenital
Tuberose sclerosis, congenital cerebral diplegia, gumma hydrocephalus.
Degenerative conditions
Pressure, dementias.
Classification of Idiopathic Epilepsy
Generalised seizure
(a) Grand mal epilepsy or major epilepsy or tonic clonic seizure.
(b) Status epilepticus
(c) Absence seizure (petit mal epilpsy)-Typical or Atypical.
(d) Myoclonic seizure.
(e) Tonic seizure.
(f) Akinetic seizure.
Partial seizure (Focal seizures)
(a) Simple (consciousness present).
(b) Complex (consciousness lost).
(c) Focal onset leading to tonic seizure.
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