Generalized epilepsy

Absence seizures are more found in children than in adults.[7] Absence seizures involve Unexpected intervals of awareness, it almost looks like the person who is having the seizure only looking at blankly.[7] it is also known as petit mal seizures.[8] It is common pediatric epilepsy disorder accounting for 10% of all pediatric epilepsies.[9] The fundamental mechanisms are not yet fully understood.[9] AS is measured a self-limited epilepsy syndrome,[9] There is also an increased risk of academic difficulties related to specific cognitive disorders.[9] Absence can be seen in children age between 4-14 years.[8] It happened due to some abnormal brain functions, though the exact cause in unknown even for the physicians.[8] Absence seizures happen in around 5 people in every 100,000 of all ages, and in 6 to 8 in every 100,000 children younger age.[10] The preferred antiseizure medication to treat absent seizures is Ethosuximide, valproate, lamotrigine, and topiramate.[10] It is preferred not to use phenytoin, carbamazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, and vigabatrin, the use of these medications can worsen the seizure.[10] A ketogenic diet may be considered, as a good alternative therapy.[10]

These are other possible symptoms of an absence seizure: [7][8]

• Sudden stop in motion
• Lip smacking
• Eyelid flutters
• Chewing motions
• Finger rubbing
• Small movements of both hands
• Being very still
• Suddenly returning to activity when the seizure ends

Myoclonic seizures are short-lived, jerks of a muscle.[11] The term means myoclonus means the quick alteration of contraction and relaxation sometimes jerking or twitching—of a muscle.[11] The occurrence of the condition is short-lived only for 1-2 seconds.[11] The occurrence of this movement is bilateral.[11] It can be experienced by the nonepileptic person also as a sudden jerk.[11] As this seizure is short-lived, the rescue medication sometimes prescribed as treatment options.[10] The preferable choice of treatment for myoclonic seizures is Valproate (VPA).[12] VPA frequently used to treat male seizures, whereas lamotrigine (LTG) is often used to treat women.[12] Levetiracetam (LEV) and topiramate (TPM) are found to be effective and used as second line of treatment.[12] Some antiseizure medications which (AEDs) can worsen myoclonic seizures.[12] The treatment of myoclonic seizures is dependent on:[5]

• The type of seizure
• The frequency of seizure
• The severity of seizure
• The patient's age
• The patient's overall health
• The patient's medical history

These are other possible symptoms of an myoclonic seizure:[13][10]

• Very short-lived
• Usually affected by small groups of muscles
• Happen in limited numbers
• More likely underneath certain conditions
• Usually aware of them

The possible causes of myoclonic seizures are:[10][13]

• Abnormal brain development
• Genetic mutations
• Brain tumor
• Brain infection
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Lack of oxygen to the brain
• Degenerative disease like Dementia
• Drug or alcohol withdrawal
• Viral and bacterial infections
• High or low blood sugar level.

The word clonus means repeatedly relaxing and stiffening of the muscle.[14] It is the one and most affected babies.[14] Most frequently, clonic movements are seen as part of a tonic-clonic seizure.[14] Clonic seizures are sometimes difficult to discriminate from myoclonic seizures.[14] Clonic seizures are sometimes difficult to discriminate from myoclonic seizures.[14] When it is affecting one side of the motor area of the brain it is called a focal clonic seizure.[14] It gradually affects both sides of the brain then it is called a generalized clonic seizure.[14] The severity and frequency are dependent upon the person, some may have rare seizures,[14] and others may have more frequent seizures.[14]

In tonic seizure, due to amplified tone, the body, is abruptly stiff or tense.[15] The seizure usually happened during sleep.[15] It affects most parts of the brain along with both sides of the body.[15] The duration of the seizure is very limited, almost lesser than 20 seconds.[15] It can affect any person, but it is more with the person with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.[15] Tonic is being diagnosed by EEG, which can help to distinguish between tonic seizures and other indications.[15] MRI scan is also used to find out the lesions of the brain which can cause tonic seizures.[15] Anti-seizure medications are the foremost way to treat seizures.[15]

Atonic seizure also known as "drop attacks" or "drop seizures".[16] In an atonic seizure, muscles suddenly converted limp.[16] These seizures typically last less than 15 seconds.[16] The exact cause of the seizure is unknown, but sometimes hyperventilation can trigger the atonic seizure.[17] The preferable choice of treatment for myoclonic seizures is Ethosuximide (Zarontin), Valproic acid (Depakene).[17] But Valproic acid is not recommended for the pregnant women, as it may cause the birth defect.[17]

These are other possible symptoms of an atonic seizure.[17]

• Going limp
• falling to the ground
• Remaining conscious
• loss of consciousness (brief)
• Drooping eyelids
• Head nods[17]

Generalized tonic-clonic seizure also known as a grand mal seizure.[18] A generalized tonic-clonic seizure is a motor seizure.[19] It is the most common type seen in patients with epilepsy.[19] It is involved in bilateral cortical, subcortical, and brainstem networks of the brain.[19] It starts from one side of the brain and spread rapidly to both sides of the brain.[19] The cause of GTCS is unknown.[18][19] There is evidence of genetic factors as a cause of GTCS.[18][19] Other than genetics, brain injury, tumor, or infection low sodium in the body, and drug or alcohol use, some medical conditions are also involved in the etiology of GTCS.[18][19]

These are other possible symptoms of Generalized tonic-clonic seizure:[18]

• Loss of bowel and bladder control
• Unresponsiveness after convulsions
• Confusion
• scream
• Fatigue
• Severe headache[18]

There are no clear descriptions of the genetic cause of generalized epilepsy.[10] There are few pieces of evidence that show that it runs into the family, or have an underlying genetic cause.[10] Few researchers also said explained the involvement of a few specific genes which can trigger the cause along with other reasons.[10]

Brain infections such as meningitis, and encephalitis can also cause epilepsy.[10] Infection is most common preventable risk factor for epilepsy.[20] Infection related epilepsy can develop at any of people (ranging from childhood to adult).[20] there are various bacterial, parasitic, fungal and viral infections of the CNS which lead to epilepsy.[20] CNS Bacterial infection can lead to seizures and late acquired epilepsy.[20] CNS TB is extremely related to epilepsy.[20] Encephalitis resulting of virus-related contagion of the brain can be linked to generalized seizures.[20]

Common infections related to epilepsy are: -[21]

• Neurocysticercosis
• Cerebral malaria
• TORCH infections
• Bacterial meningitis
• Viral encephalitis
• Tuberculosis
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Autoimmune diseases can lead to epilepsy.[10]

Developmental abnormalities disturbing the brain are a recurrent cause of epilepsy.[10]

People with a metabolic disorder can have epilepsy.[10] There are more than 200 metabolic disorders which can cause epilepsy.[22] Few researchers has found the new link between the protein deficiency and epilepsy.[23]

In the prenatal stage, babies are vulnerable to brain damage caused by several factors.[24] The factors that can lead to brain damage are the mother’s infection, poor nutrition, lack of oxygen, etc.[24] Brain damage can lead to childhood epilepsy.[24]