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EpilepsyICD-9-CM Code 345.90
Hawaii Holloway
History of EpilepsyThe word epilepsy derives from the Greek verb
epilambanein, meaning to be seized, to be overwhelmed by surprise.
Oswei Temkin reported in his book The Falling Sickness, that seizures were described in ancient Mesopotamia and were attributed to “the hand of Sin,” the god of the moon. The Hammurabi code, dated 1780 B.C., dictated that the person with epilepsy could not marry, or testify in court, and the purchase contract of a slave was considered void if the slave suffered an epileptic seizure within the first three months of purchase.
In the Western world, the fight against the supernatural during the time of the Enlightenment, in the late 17th century, which is the start in the denial of demoniac influence even in the biblical cases. However, history also provides many examples of Epilepsia. Such as these people with epilepsy who accomplished significant achievements in their lives: Alexander the Great, Peter the Great, Julius Caesar, Richelieu, Charles V, and many others.
For years, many religions have regarded the person with epilepsy as being “possessed.” A passage in St. Mark’s Gospel accurately describes a Tonic–clonic seizure, but concludes that the child contained “a spirit ofdumbness.” In the Christian world, this biblical story led to the belief, shared by many Greek and Latin priests, that “epileptics were demoniacs” and that epilepsy was caused by an “unclean dumb and deaf spirit.”
In the late 19th century, many reported that people with epilepsy were prone to violence and religious ecstasy, supposedly caused by anxiety and frightful hallucinations.
History of EpilepsyIn the Western world, the fight against the supernatural during the time of the Enlightenment, in the late 17th century, which is the start in the denial of demoniac influence even in the biblical cases. However, history also provides many examples of Epilepsia. Such as these people with epilepsy who accomplished significant achievements in their lives: Alexander the Great, Peter the Great, Julius Caesar, Richelieu, Charles V, and many others.
What isEpilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder caused by malfunctioning nerve cell activity in the brain.
These malfunctions are called seizures.
Seizures may last from a few seconds
to a few minutes. People who have had two or more seizures without obvious triggers separated by at
least 24 hours are considered to have
epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a problem with the brain’s electrical system. Electrical impulses cause brief changes in movement, behavior, feeling, or awareness.
This is a picture of a non epileptic bran vs an epilectic.
Types of SeizuresSeizures can be divided into two main types.
2. Generalized SeizuresAll types of generalized seizures affect both sides of
the brain. Generalized seizures can be divided into six groups:
Tonic seizure: when the muscles in the affected area will tighten and stiffen. The arms, legs, and back are commonly affected. Most people will fall to the ground because of their muscle rigidityClonic seizure: People will routinely experience rhythmic, repeated jerking movements. The neck, face, and arms are commonly affected.Myoclonic: causes sudden jerking movements or twitches, commonly in the arms and legs
Absence: leaves a person briefly unaware of their surroundings and actions. Most stare blankly until the seizure is over. Some will produce a subtle, repetitive body movementAtonic: causes loss of muscle control. A person may suddenly fall or collapse. It’s sometimes called a drop seizureTonic-clonic: Commonly called “grand mal” seizures, causes loss of consciousness, as well as violent shaking and body stiffening. Some people will lose control of their bladder and may bite their tongue.
Types of Seizures
Absence Atonic
Tonic-clonic
What causes seizures & who gets them?
Researchers are still unclear if ethnicity plays a role in who develops epilepsy. Studies suggest, that non-Latino whites are more commonly affected by generalized epilepsy than people of African-American descent. Overall, no gender is more likely to develop epilepsy than the other. Epilepsy can begin at any age, but more people are diagnosed in childhood and after age 60.
If a close family member has epilepsy, you are more likely to develop this disorder. The most common causes of epilepsy are: brain infection, head trauma, brain tumor and stroke. In more than half of epilepsy cases, doctors will not be able to identify a cause. These epilepsy cases, called idiopathic epilepsy, make up 60 to 70 percent of epilepsy cases.
What Can Trigger Seizures?Seizures can be triggered by the most random day to day tasks, or it can come
like clock work every day. Here are some of the most common reported triggers.
Specific day or night
Sleep deprivation and stress
Alcohol and/or
drug abuse
Flashing lights or patterns
Specific foods
or excess
caffine
Use of certain
medications
Associated with menstrual cycle or
other hormonal changes
Bad eating habits or
low blood sugar
Treatment For Epilepsy
Surgery: In some cases, imaging tests can detect the area of the brain responsible for the seizure. If this area of the brain is very small and well defined, doctors may perform surgery to remove the portions of the brain that are responsible. If your seizures originate in a part of the brain that cannot be removed, your doctor may still be able to perform a procedure that can help prevent the seizures from spreading to other areas of the brain.
Vagus nerve stimulation: Doctors can implant a device under the skin of your chest. This device is connected to the vagus nerve in the neck. The device sends electrical bursts through the nerve and into the brain. These electrical pulses have been shown to reduce seizures by 20 to 40 percent.
Medication: For 70% of patients with epilepsy, drugs can control seizures. However, they can't cure epilepsy, and most people will need to continue taking. It’s also possible you will be able to discontinue taking these medicines after a certain period of time.
Experimental treatment for
epilepsyEvidence from laboratory studies, and small clinical studies from a couple years ago suggests that cannabidiol, (a non-psychoactive compound of cannabis), could potentially be helpful in controlling seizures. However, scientifically controlled studies have not shown definitive proof of the effectiveness and safety.
Recently, there have been some open-labeled studies in the U.S. of Epidiolex (a drug derived from cannabidiol or CBD. Epidiolex is a purified, 99% oil-based extract of CBD that is produced to give known and consistent amounts in each dose. The FDA has given some epilepsy centers permission to use this drug as "compassionate use" for a limited number of people at each center. Such studies are ongoing for difficult epilepsies such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (in children and adults) and Dravet syndrome in children.Results from 213 people who received Epidiolex (99% CBD) in an open label study (without a placebo control) were presented at the American Academy of Neurology, April 22, 2015 in Washington DC. Data from 137 people who completed 12 weeks or more on the drug were used to look at how helpful or effective the drug was. People who received the Epidiolex ranged from 2 to 26 years old with an average age of 11. All had epilepsy that did not respond to currently available treatments.
Patients who had DS re-sponded
more positively with a 63% decrease
Seizures decreased by an average of 54%
In 27 patients with atonic
seizures, it de-creased by 66.7%
on average.
Results from Cannabidol
*14 people withdrew from the study
because the drug was not effective for them.
Prince, the legendary performer and Grammy Award-winner, only talked publicly about his childhood battle with epilepsy a few years ago. He described being made fun of in school and having loving parents who weren’t sure how to cope with his disorder. The experiences shaped his career and his success. Prince explains that the teasing from his classmates forced him to be confident and to develop a unique style and persona that helped make him famous.
Famous With Epilepsy
Vincent Van G
ogh
Danny G
lover
Theodore R
oosevelt
Charles D
ickens
1. What is something that can trigger a seizure?
2. Can you name a type of seizure?
3. Epilepsy is a problems in the brain’s what system?
4. What is a sign of a seizure?
5. Who is more commonly affected by epilepsy?
6. Is there a cure for epilepsy?
7. Do you know someone who is effected by epilepsy?
