Warning signs of epilepsy

Dr. Aditya S Chowti

International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the second Monday in February to raise awareness of epilepsy in over 130 countries, with people joining together to acknowledge and highlight the challenges encountered by persons with epilepsy, their families, and caregivers.

Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is a brain condition that causes recurrent, unprovoked seizures by interrupting the brain’s normal electrical functions, resulting in symptoms such as slowed movement or loss of consciousness.

Epilepsy, despite being the fourth most common neurological condition, is difficult to diagnose and can be caused by a range of reasons ranging from heredity to brain structural changes.

The body produces several warning signs before a seizure occurs, some of which are quick or subtle, making detection difficult.

The prodrome stage

This stage can last anywhere from 10 minutes to several days before a seizure occurs. Typical symptoms include: a “funny sensation”, confusion, anxiety\irritability, and headache.

The aura stage

Also known as simple focal seizures, this stage occurs in a single area of the brain and can be a warning sign. In some cases, the aura itself is referred to as a simple focal, or partial seizure. Other types of seizures, such as generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures, can occur when the seizures spread from one part of the brain to the other. Simple focal seizures do not usually cause people to lose consciousness.

Symptoms include: twitching or jerking movements on one side of the body, intense anxiety or fear; hallucinations manifested as visions, sounds, or odors, variations in blood pressure or heart rate, constipation/ bladder problems, confusion caused by numbness or tingling, and nausea.

When a person detects a warning “aura,” such as a taste or smell, they have enough time to lie down and avoid falling. When the aura is a smell, some people can fight seizures by sniffing a strong odour, such as garlic or roses. If the preliminary symptoms include depression, irritability, or headache, an extra dose of medication (with a doctor’s approval) may help prevent an attack. When a Jacksonian seizure occurs, firmly squeezing the muscles around the twitching muscles can sometimes stop the attack.

What to do in case of an emergency

If your seizures aren’t completely under control, take extra precautions. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption and educate family members on how to help you if you have a seizure. Inform them to keep you from falling and to roll you onto your side if you lose consciousness.

• Do not hesitate to call for emergency assistance if necessary

• Cushion the person’s head safely.

• Protect them from any nearby objects

• Time the duration of the seizure

• Stay with the individual until they recover

What not to do

• Avoid putting anything into their mouth

• Don’t move the person

• Don’t try to restrain the individual

(The writer is a senior consultant, Internal medicine, Fortis Hospital.)