A disorder of the brain that also includes recurring seizures is termed as epilepsy. These seizures are due to chemical and electrical activity of the brain. Seizures can happen anywhere in the brain and involves multiple causes.Fits, convulsions or episodes are the other names for seizures. Seizures come suddenly and changes a childs state of physical activity and awareness for a temporary period. Convulsions or fits also affect the senses like sensation, smell or vision.

Causes of Epilepsy

The causes of seizures cannot be recognized (idiopathic). These seizures can occur at any age but generally they begin in between the age of 5-20. They can also occur due to family history of epilepsy or seizures. Other causes include

• Brain strokes or tumors
• A brain injury
• Birth injuries
• Alcohol withdrawal
• An infection that affects the developing brain of a fetus during pregnancy
• Poisoning like alcohol or lead poisoning
• Encephalitis, Meningitis or any other type of infection that affects the brain
• Lack of oxygen to an infants brain during childbirth
• Epilepsy Symptoms
• Seizures are considered as one of the symptoms of epilepsy. Seizures are of many types and they can feel and look different that depends upon how quickly or how
• far they spread to the brain. For example
• A person may black out and fall on the ground.
• A person may experience a strange feeling as if he or she is out of touch with their surroundings.
• Arms may jerk suddenly.
• Muscles may feel limp or stiff.
• A person may tremble or twitch
• Types of Epilepsy
• Partial Epilepsy
• Complex partial seizure
• Simple partial seizure
• Generalized Epilepsy
• Absences
• Generalized tonic clonic seizures
• Myoclonic epilepsy

Epilepsy Surgery

It is advisable to plan the treatment with a specialist doctor who treats epilepsy viz a neurologist or an epilepsy expert. However, about 20-30% of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite medications. Some of these patients can benefit with brain surgery. The decision for suitability for surgery depends on detailed investigation results. Technological advances like better neuroimaging and long term video EEG (electroencephalogram) evaluation have improved diagnostic accuracy. In rightly chosen patients, surgery is safe and can cure epilepsy. The person can be free of seizures, and may even be able to gradually stop all medications.

A patient is required to have an electroencephalograph (EEG) which is done for reading the electrical activity of the brain. The presence of seizures is confirmed by taking this test. It is essential to do prolonged EEG monitoring as EEG can be normal in between seizures. In order to locate any damaged brain tissue or scar, computer tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be done. Many times PET (positron emission tomography) can also be done for examining blood flow to the brain.

Surgery for Epilepsy

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) : VNS therapy is recommended when medicines are unable to control epilepsy. During the surgical procedure, an electrical device is implanted underneath the skin. The lead of this device is wrapped around one of the nerves on the neck left side. This nerve is called as vagus nerve. This device continuously passes an electric dose to the nerve in order to stimulate it. This process reduces the severity and frequency of the seizures. If a person is feeling a warning seizure symptom then extra stimulation is given for preventing recurrence of the seizure.