New Delhi: Epilepsy is a neurological illness that, if not treated appropriately, can be severe and even fatal. There are 50 million persons with epilepsy globally, with the majority of them residing in poor nations. There are around 10 million epileptics in India. The earlier the illness is detected, the sooner treatment may begin, and the better the patient’s result will be. Despite the ubiquity of the disorder, many individuals are unaware of the frequent symptoms or the need for early identification and screening for epilepsy.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Aakaar Kapoor, CEO and Lead Medical Advisor: City X-Ray and Scan Clinic Founder and Partner: City Imaging & Clinical Labs, explained early epilepsy in detail; how a diagnosis is determined, and the importance of early detection and screening for epilepsy.
Epilepsy — also known as a seizure disorder — is a common brain condition that causes recurring seizures. While the cause can be identified in some people, in others, the cause is not known. The condition affects people of all genders, races, ethnic backgrounds, and ages.
Epilepsy diagnosis is frequently delayed or erroneous, leaving patients vulnerable to recurrent seizures and their serious effects until proper treatment is implemented. Delays in recognizing seizure symptoms and missing or delayed diagnoses by health-care practitioners are significant contributors to this problem.
To be diagnosed with epilepsy, an individual must have one of the following:
- At least two unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart or a known seizure cause that increases the likelihood of future seizures or a diagnosis of epilepsy syndrome.
- To determine whether the symptoms are caused by epilepsy, other possible causes of seizures must be eliminated. There are several causes of epileptic-like symptoms that are not associated with epilepsy.
- A wide range of tests can help rule out alternative causes of seizures and determine where the area of the brain is seizing. A more complete diagnosis allows for more informed treatment decisions.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
- An eeg captures the brain’s electrical activity, including any anomalies in the brain waves. Ideally, this test is done within 24 hours following a person’s first seizure. (2) the EEG is a routine test for identifying abnormal brain activity that causes epilepsy.
- Blood tests can rule out other causes.
- There is no blood test for epilepsy, however, blood testing can be used to rule out alternative causes of seizures.
- Some seizure disorders are syndromes caused by known genetic abnormalities, therefore genetic testing can assist diagnose them.
- Other blood tests can reveal that seizures were caused by an illness or abnormal levels of electrolytes or sugar in the blood, rather than epilepsy.
Radiological tests for epilepsy
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can detect structural or other focal abnormalities which include infective or inflammatory lesions in the brain that may trigger seizures. Contrast also has a major role in MRI & CT to detect meningeal enhancement or any enhancing parenchymal lesions that may lead to epilepsy.
PET and SPECT scans can measure cerebral blood flow during and after seizures.
If EEG, MRI, and lab work are negative for epilepsy, seizures may be non-epileptic, meaning there is no abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A person’s medical history is also an important tool to help determine the type of seizures and whether they are caused by epilepsy.
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