Patients should be evaluated thoroughly after an initial seizure. It is imperative that the clinician take a complete and detailed patient history, including details of birth, childhood, family history, and medication regimen; and a thorough medical history, including any illnesses of the nervous system. A thorough history of drug and alcohol use is equally important.

It also is helpful to distinguish seizure subtypes, partial or generalized; time of day of the event, including whether the seizure occurred during wakefulness or sleep; and any known triggers, such as a flickering light, severe sleep deprivation, or dehydration.

Thorough general physical and detailed neurological examinations also should be performed.


Laboratory data utilized in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with seizure disorders may include CAT scan imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography (EEG). A complete blood laboratory panel, including drug-toxic screening, and urinalysis are usually performed.

CAT scan brain imaging is often the first radiological study obtained, especially in the emergency room setting. It can indicate pathology such as a brain tumor, stroke, brain hemorrhage, acute or remote trauma, and infection. Limitations include inability to evaluate certain structures in the brain in detail, particularly the temporal lobes of the brain, often the first sites of seizure activity.

MRI brain imaging is performed for many patients with seizure disorders. It has the ability to visualize in great detail much of our brain anatomy. Subtle asymmetries in relevant structures, as well as undetected mass lesions, small strokes, and evidence of trauma may be uncovered. The use of a contrast agent (injected into the vein) can enhance the ability to show underlying abnormalities.

EEG (also known as "brain wave") provides information about the electrical activity in the brain. Unlike CAT or MRI, it does not produce an image of the brain, but supplies information about the function or dysfunction of parts of the brain. Multiple small electrodes are placed at specific points on the scalp on both sides of the head to record activity generated mainly by the cerebral cortex. Brain wave activity is usually recorded for 30-45 minutes. Many patients will also be tested while hyperventilating (breathing rapidly and deeply), when flashing lights are flashing, while sleeping, or when sleep deprived. The brain normally exhibits particular patterns on the EEG during wakefulness, drowsiness, and sleep. The duration and character of normal brain-wave activity can be used as a baseline for comparison with abnormal waves on an EEG.

Some of the findings on EEG are specific to particular disorders and subtypes of epilepsy. Activity during a seizure can be identified by a pattern on the graph indicating epilepsy called epileptiform. Correlating this type of data with clinical symptoms of seizures often helps make an accurate diagnosis. The EEG recording between seizures is often abnormal in patients with epilepsy, and so can be helpful in this setting.

EEG can be combined with video monitoring to record activity both electrically and visually. EEG can also be performed in a long-term care setting with a portable ambulatory unit, to monitor patients for up to many days at a time.

Other uses of the EEG include evaluation of altered states of consciousness, brain damage, metabolic-toxic injury, and suspected brain death.

Epilepsy is not associated with any particular disease. Many abnormalities of the nervous system can result in seizure activity. Seizures can also occur in the normal nervous system when its metabolic balance is disturbed. The etiology (cause) of epilepsy may be idiopathic (not clearly known) or related to a particular disease state. About 35% of all cases of epilepsy have no clearly definable cause.

The following summarizes some of the more common factors leading to seizure activity:

1. Genetic factors: It is now accepted that some persons may have a genetic predisposition to the development of seizures. There is also an increased incidence of epilepsy in relatives of those with a seizure disorder.

2. Head injury: Seizures may develop at or around the time of injury or years after (usually not more than two years later). They may occur with either an "open" or "closed " head injury.

3. Stroke/cerebrovascular disorders: Seizures can occur at the time of a stroke or many years later. They may occur with strokes that result in lack of blood flow to the brain or with those that involve bleeding into or around the brain.

4. Metabolic disturbances: This group of disorders changes levels of various metabolic substances in the body. These disease states sometimes result in seizures.

• Electrolyte disturbances (altered levels of sodium, calcium, or magnesium)
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar)
• Renal failure (kidney disease) with uremia (increased urea in the blood) or changes that occur around the time of kidney dialysis .
• Hepatic failure (severe liver disease) and elevation of associated toxins
• Hypoxia (lowered oxygen delivery to the brain)

5. Toxic causes: The presence of certain drugs can cause seizure activity. In addition, abrupt withdrawal of some substances can lead to seizure activity. These substances that may induce seizures include the tricyclic antidepressants, lithium , antipsychotic medications, aminophylline, and high doses of penicillin. Illicit drug use, particularly cocaine, heroine, amphetamines, and PCP, can cause seizures. Alcohol withdrawal can be associated with seizure activity. These seizures usually occur 12-24 hours after the last drink but can occur up until 48 hours or more after binge drinking. Withdrawal from prescription drugs and agents such as barbiturates and narcotics can result in seizure activity.

6. Infections: Infections of the nervous system may result in a lowered seizure threshold. These may include meningitis (infections of the coverings of the brain and spinal fluid), encephalitis (infection of the brain itself), and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and related infections.

7. Tumors and space-occupying lesions: Brain tumors, both malignant (cancerous) and benign, may be associated with seizures. The anatomic location of the abnormality influences the likelihood of having seizures.

8. Degenerative disorders: There are many neurodegenerative disorders that are accompanied by seizures. These include tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, Tay-Sachs disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), and Sturge-Weber syndrome.

9. Brain damage in infancy: Cerebral palsy secondary to lack of oxygen, infection, or trauma is associated with epilepsy.

10. Febrile seizures: These are an age-associated form of epilepsy that may present as a single seizure or may be recurring. They are associated with a high fever in children 3 months to 4 years of age and occur in 3%-4% of children.

11. TMBC: *Too many brain cells can be caused by the brain cells not dissolving as we grow up and then it can cause a scar on the brain. The other way it can happen is when the mother is pregnant with child and goes through trauma causing the brain cells not to split equally on both sides of the brain and then it leaves a scar on the brain causing seizures. Information provided by: Porkette (Sue) [Will add a formal tag once I gather more information - This is a place holder]

12. Celiac Disease and Nutritional Deficiency: There is so much evidenced based information on gluten related seizures, but it is something our neurologists rarely consider. The sad part is that if detected early enough, and a gluten free diet is begun promptly, sometimes the seizures will completely resolve. It should definitely be considered in anyone with a family history of autoimmune disease or family history of GI disease. Neurological symptoms can be present without GI symptoms. Information provided by: "jcc" (Cara) Visit The Gluten File for more information.

Disorders That Mimic Seizure Disorders
True seizure disorders must be differentiated from a variety of problems whose symptoms approximate or closely resemble those of epilepsy. These include cerebrovascular (stroke-related) disorders, migraine, narcolepsy, syncope (fainting), and anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. Another type of spell well known to physicians is the so-called pseudoseizure, or more properly nonepileptogenic seizure. These spells are not triggered by nerve cell discharges that cause true epilepsy, although the patient may experience muscle twitching and even apparent loss of consciousness. These spells have a psychiatric component and often coexist in persons who have true epilepsy. EEG monitoring can help distinguish disorders that mimic epilepsy from true seizures.







Most information has been brought to you by Google, Neurologychannel.com, epilepsyontario.com and myepilepsy.com.

I think I strained my brain!

Thanks Ellie! That's awesome!

Hi Ellie,
Thanks for the great info. There's another thing that I can think of that causes sz. and that is to many brain cells that don't disolve and then leave a scar on the brain. This is what happened to me and my Epi. told me he's only had 2 other cases like mine in all the yrs. he's been working. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hi Sue!

I suppose since it's so rare that's why I'm having a heck of a time finding any information online. Would you happen to have any more information, or a website link, etc.? Any information would be appreciated (so I can add a better description above).

Hi Ellie,
To many brain cells can be caused by the brain cells not disolving as we grow up and then it can cause a scar on the brain. The other way it can happen is when the mother is with child and goes through trauma causing the brain cells not to split equally on both sides of the brain and then it leaves a scar on the brain causing sz. I found out this is what happened to me when I had my wada test a few yrs. ago. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hi Ellie,

This is the most comprehensive and understandable piece on Epilepsy yet. It is very "readable". I'm comming back very soon. i am trying to understand what is happening to my daughter. I wrote in this article because my child is adopted and we have no medical / genetic history to work with. thank God for you. God bless