Epilepsy HERE

How epilepsy is diagnosed?

Getting a diagnosis of epilepsy can be very difficult because there is no single test that can diagnose epilepsy.

Diagnosing epilepsy involves collecting information from different tests, talking to the person about what has been happening to them, and speaking to anyone else who might have seen the seizures. With all the collected iinformation the most likely cause of the seizures may be found.
A single seizure will not result in a diagnosis of epilepsy. However, if you have had only one seizure your doctor may still wish to consider what may have caused it, especially if they think it might be something other than epilepsy, for example seizures caused by other conditions such as diabetes.

If there is a possibility that you have epilepsy, your GP may refer you to a neurologist..

Much of the diagnosis of epilepsy is based on finding out what happened to you before, during and after the seizures.

What happened during the seizure?

The person who had the seizure may not remember much, if anything, about it. This might be because they were unconscious at the time or very confused afterwards.

If you see someone having a seizure here are some questions that can help you give useful information about what happened.

• Where was the person and what were they doing before the seizure?

• Did you notice their mood change - were they excited, anxious or quiet?

• Were there any triggers for the seizure– did they feel tired, hungry, or unwell?

• Did they have any warning that the seizure was going to happen?

• Did they have any unusual sensations, such as an odd smell or taste?

• What made you notice the seizure – a noise, did they fall, or did their eyes roll?

• Did they appear to be ‘blank’ or stare into space?

• Did they lose consciousness or were they confused?

• Did they do anything unusual such as mumble, wander about or fiddle with their clothing?

• Did their colour change (become pale or flushed) and if so, where

• Did their breathing change (e.g. become noisy or look difficult)?

• Did any part of their body move, jerk or twitch?

• Did they fall down, or go stiff or floppy?

• Did they wet themselves?

• Did they bite their tongue or cheek?

• How long did the seizure last?

• What were they like after the seizure– did they need to sleep?

• How long was it before they were able to carry on as normal?

• Did you notice anything else?

Sometimes the cause of someone’s epilepsy can be found. For example, someone might develop epilepsy after they have had a head injury, brain infection (such as meningitis) or stroke. Or there may be a genetic cause (passed from parent to child) for their epilepsy - some inherited conditions, such as tuberous sclerosis, can cause epilepsy.

Your neurologist may ask you to have some tests to get extra information about the seizures

There are a number of tests that can helprule out other causes. These include the following tests:
- Blood test
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)) is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. No test can say for certain whether you do or do not have epilepsy. But when the information from the tests is added to the other information about what happens during the seizures, this builds up a clearer picture
  of what happened. This may help with the diagnosis and when choosing treatment.
- Electroencephalograms (EEG's) give information about the electrical activity of the brain during the time the test is happening) is used to record the electrical activity of the brain by picking up the electrical signals from the brain cells. It is is used to record the electrical activity of the brain by picking up the electrical signals from the brain cells. These signals are picked up by electrodes on the head and are recorded on paper or on a computer. . The recording shows how the brain is working. Like the ECG, the electrodes only record electrical activity - they do not give out electrical signals and they do not hurt.Some people with epilepsy have seizures that are started, or ‘triggered’, by flashing lights. This is called photosensitive epilepsy .An EEG test will usually include testing for photosensitive epilepsy
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI scansuse magnetic fields to create pictures of the brain. An MRI scan uses magnetic fields to take images of the brain. It can find scars, tumours or areas of damage to the brain, which may cause a person’s epilepsy.
Computerised axial tomography (CT or CAT scan)

These use X-rays to take images of the brainCT scans use X-rays to take images of the brain. CT scans are not suitable if you are pregnant because of the X-rays. During a CT scan you lie on a couch which slides into the scanner.
Unlike MRI scanners, CT scanners do not make a loud noise. The pictures from a CT scan are often less detailed than from MRI scans..

For a more detailed explanation on this and other aspects of epilepsy visit the National Society for Epilepsy Website http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/info/leaflets/

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Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition affecting at least 1 in every 200 people world-wide. Many are left without treatment