Recommendations for Epilepsy

What is a seizure?

Seizure is a common neurological symptom in childhood. It is a terrible and terrifying event for the family to experience. A seizure is a sudden state in which consciousness is either on or off. It may occur in the form of contractions in the human body, jerking, twitching in the face, as well as a feeling of fear, bad smell in the nose, seeing dreams, blurred vision, feeling as if you have experienced an event, headache, dizziness.

Will the seizure be feverish?

Seizures may be feverish or feverish. We see febrile seizures most frequently in children under 5 years of age. Febrile seizures usually occur after upper respiratory tract infections. They are usually innocent seizures. However, febrile seizures can be a symptom of serious cerebral disease such as meningitis. Seizures without fever may also be a symptom of epilepsy, popularly known as epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disease characterized by recurrent seizures. It usually presents as afebrile seizures. Rarely, it may present with seizures triggered by fever.

Is every seizure dangerous?

Most seizures are short-term and harmless. Prolonged seizures can be dangerous. Seizures lasting less than 5 minutes are generally innocent seizures. Seizures lasting longer than 5 minutes require intervention.

What should be done when experiencing a seizure?

Since seizures are a frightening situation for families, wrong practices are often made. Since more than 90% of patients with seizures stop spontaneously within the first five minutes, the patient is turned on his side. Objects that could cause harm are removed from the surrounding area. If the patient vomits, his mouth is cleaned. If the seizure does not stop, you should call 112 emergency services and request help. It is dangerous to try to open the jaw or insert objects such as spoons into the mouth during a seizure. Jaw dislocations and tooth fractures may be caused. If the patient has bitten his tongue, his tongue is pushed back. It is dangerous and harmful to go under water or try to get something to eat or drink during a seizure.

Can a seizure be a sign of a serious disease?

Yes, it definitely can. Brain tumors, meningitis, encephalitis (brain Seizure may be the first symptom of inflammation), electrolyte disturbance, low calcium, or vitamin D deficiency. Every seizure should be taken seriously and examined from this perspective. Every patient who has had a seizure should be seen by a Pediatric Neurologist after the seizure. After the seizure, a brain film (tomography, MRI) should be taken and a brain EEG should be performed. Each patient should be followed up by a Pediatric Neurologist.
Recommendations for seizure patients can be listed as follows:

• Hunger,
• Insomnia,
  • Febrile illnesses,,
  • Anxiety and depression,
  • Flickering and bright lights

  trigger seizures.

  There is no recommendation for a special diet or a special exercise for them to do. Television, computer, tablet and mobile phone should not be used too much. Heavy sports are not recommended. Junk foods such as cola and chips should not be eaten. Seizure medications should not be stopped suddenly. Seizure medications can be used together with antibiotics, painkillers and antipyretics. Some seizure medications can have a bitter taste. You can drink these medicines by mixing them with fruit juice. A regular lifestyle will be beneficial.
  
  Things to do during a seizure: As long as the patient is having a seizure, the patient should not be intervened in any way. The patient may be harmed by trying to insert a finger or spoon between the patient's teeth to open the mouth, or by holding and pressing to prevent contractions. Under normal conditions, the attack ends spontaneously within a maximum of 1-5 minutes. If the epileptic attack does not end within this period, the patient must be taken to the hospital. While the patient is having an epileptic seizure, it may be necessary to take precautions just to prevent environmental factors from harming him. If there is a sharp object or hard object around that could harm the patient in situations such as falling or convulsing while the patient is having a seizure, the patient should be removed from that danger. Tightly tied clothes such as ties and scarves that constrict the patient's throat during a crisis should be loosened so that the patient can breathe easily. Making the patient smell onions, cologne, etc. has no therapeutic meaning. The arms and legs of a patient having a seizure may be held or pressed by relatives or people around them. Trying to control it by scratching may cause orthopedic problems such as shoulder dislocation. Trying to open the mouth while the patient is contracting; It can cause many negative effects such as jaw dislocation, breaking teeth, biting the patient's fingers while trying to open it, and causing bleeding. After the person regains consciousness, he or she may feel tired, temporarily lose consciousness, or become dizzy. Therefore, the patient should be rested for a while.

  What is epilepsy?:

  Epileptic seizure is the disruption of the normal activity of the brain as a result of abnormal electrical activity that occurs temporarily in the nerve cells. It is a clinical situation that occurs. Epilepsy, also known as "Epileptic Disease" among the public, manifests itself with epileptic seizures. When an epileptic seizure occurs, the patient experiences temporary loss of consciousness or symptoms of different characteristics.

  Epilepsy is a very common disease. Epilepsy can occur at any age and time, not in a certain age group. In childhood, when the disease is common, observations of parents play an important role in diagnosis. Situations such as the child smacking his mouth from time to time, sudden jumps-startles in his arms and legs, a bad smell coming to his nose that no one has ever heard of (for example, the smell of burnt rubber), or the child's eyes occasionally wandering and staring blankly at somewhere for a few seconds. can be observed. Some of these behaviors are not normal and if they are suspected, it is useful to consult a neurologist.

  Are there different types of epilepsy?:

  Yes, there are. Basically, epilepsy is divided into two: simple and complicated. Simple means a seizure in which the individual is conscious and aware of his seizure during the seizure. Complicated seizures are seizures in which consciousness is impaired. It can also be localized in one part of the body or generalized throughout the body. Seizures, which we call partial, are divided into different groups. Partial seizures include auditory seizures, dizziness, seeing dreams, feeling as if you have experienced an event, the feeling of experiencing something twice, a bad smell in the nose, fear, anger, excitement, tongue retention, seeing illusions. , nausea, abdominal pain g Such seizures may occur. In the seizures we call generalized, seizures may occur in the form of diving, throwing hands, falling, contraction in the whole body, smacking in the mouth, eating something in the mouth.

  PATIENTS RECEIVING MEDICATION TREATMENT AND WILL BE CONTROLLED:

  The patient should come for the check-up in the morning on a full stomach. If a blood test will be done, he will not take his medicine. However, you must bring the medicine with you. After the blood is given, you should make your child drink his medicine.

  THINGS TO CONSIDER DURING EEG TAKING:

  It is important for the patient to be sleepless. You should go to bed late at night and wake up early in the morning. For young children, a sleeping pill called chloral hydrate can be given additionally to help them sleep (consent is obtained from the family and the parent signs it). Hair must be clean. Hairpins and earrings should be removed. One person must accompany the patient during EEG recording.

  Seizure-Free Days

   

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