2. Introduction
This course is aimed at care workers who are involved with
clients who suffer from epilepsy. Candidates will gain
knowledge on the main effects of epilepsy and the
importance of supporting services users to take medication
as directed by their doctor.
This course will also explore the different types of seizures
and behaviour changes an individual may suffer from as a
result of epilepsy.
3. Aims andobjectives
An introduction to epilepsy
Causes and symptoms
Types of seizures
Diagnosis treatments
Risk factors and Complications
4. Definition
A neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes
of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions,
associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
5. Epilepsy
Epilepsy (from the Ancient Greek verb ἐπιλαμβάνειν
meaning "to seize, possess, or afflict") is a group
of neurological disorderscharacterized by epileptic
seizures. Epileptic seizures are episodes that can vary from
brief and nearly undetectable to long periods of vigorous
shaking. In epilepsy, seizures tend to recur, and have no
immediate underlying cause while seizures that occur due to
a specific cause are not deemed to represent epilepsy.
6. Epilepsy
The cause of most cases of epilepsy is unknown, although
some people develop epilepsy as the result of brain
injury, stroke, brain tumor, and drug and alcohol misuse.
Genetic mutations are linked to a small proportion of the
disease.Epileptic seizures are the result of excessive and
abnormal cortical nerve cell activity in the brain.
7. Epilepsy
The diagnosis typically involves ruling out other conditions
that might cause similar symptoms such as fainting.
Additionally, making the diagnosis involves determining if
any other cause of seizures is present such as alcohol
withdrawal or electrolyte problems. This may be done
by imaging the brain and performing blood tests. Epilepsy
can often be confirmed with
an electroencephalogram (EEG) but a normal test does not
rule out the condition.
