What are the prodromal symptoms of epilepsy?

Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
Updated on December 08, 2024
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The prodromal symptoms of epilepsy are diverse, generally involving movement, sensation, and mood. Some patients may experience transient numbness or weakness on one side of their body prior to a seizure, while others may have hallucinations and atypical mental or behavioral changes. However, these symptoms are not necessarily indicative of an impending seizure. When such symptoms occur, it is crucial to consider the possibility of an epilepsy attack, and patients should promptly visit the neurology department of a hospital for a thorough examination, including an electroencephalogram (EEG). If the EEG shows significant abnormalities such as spikes, sharp waves, slow waves, spike-and-wave complexes, or sharp-and-slow wave complexes, it suggests the potential for an epileptic seizure. In such cases, preventive medication should be administered promptly, such as carbamazepine or sodium valproate.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
1min home-news-image

What are the prodromal symptoms of epilepsy?

The prodromal symptoms of epilepsy are diverse, generally involving movement, sensation, and mood. Some patients may experience transient numbness or weakness on one side of their body prior to a seizure, while others may have hallucinations and atypical mental or behavioral changes. However, these symptoms are not necessarily indicative of an impending seizure. When such symptoms occur, it is crucial to consider the possibility of an epilepsy attack, and patients should promptly visit the neurology department of a hospital for a thorough examination, including an electroencephalogram (EEG). If the EEG shows significant abnormalities such as spikes, sharp waves, slow waves, spike-and-wave complexes, or sharp-and-slow wave complexes, it suggests the potential for an epileptic seizure. In such cases, preventive medication should be administered promptly, such as carbamazepine or sodium valproate.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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What causes benign epilepsy in children?

There are multiple causes of benign epilepsy in children, with significant genetic factors often involved. It generally occurs during a specific developmental period in childhood due to localized diseases, and the prognosis is usually good. Such seizures in children may be caused by conditions like tuberous sclerosis, cerebral trigeminal angioma, and neurofibromatosis. Intracranial infections, such as viral encephalitis, bacterial meningitis, and tubercular meningitis, can also trigger benign epilepsy in children. Therefore, once diagnosed, early intervention treatments should be initiated to prevent the symptoms from worsening. Regular follow-ups with electroencephalograms are also necessary to understand the effects of epilepsy medications and treatments.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What are the symptoms of epilepsy in children?

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder caused by various etiologies, characterized by repetitive, episodic, and transient central nervous system dysfunction due to abnormal and excessively synchronized discharges of brain neurons. The clinical manifestations of childhood epilepsy are complex and varied, commonly including loss of consciousness, localized or generalized muscular rigidity or clonic convulsions, and sensory abnormalities; there may also be abnormal behaviors, emotional and perceptual disturbances, memory changes, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What is childhood epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a persistent brain disease characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures, abnormal perceptions, and associated neurological, cognitive, psychological, and social issues. An epileptic seizure refers to sudden, brief symptoms and signs caused by excessive and abnormal discharges of brain neurons. Depending on the affected brain functional areas, clinical manifestations can vary, including disturbances in consciousness, motor functions, sensory abnormalities, as well as psychiatric and autonomic nervous system dysfunctions. It is important to note that epileptic seizures and epilepsy are two distinct concepts.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What are the psychological manifestations of patients with epilepsy?

Patients with epilepsy disorder display various psychological disturbances, which have received extensive attention from neurology experts in recent years. Overall, the psychological manifestations of epilepsy patients primarily include: First, refusal to speak, where epilepsy patients exhibit clear symptoms of being uninterested in anything, valuing themselves very lowly, and lacking self-worth. Second, anxiety, which is also a common emotion among epilepsy patients who constantly worry about having seizures, especially in public places, leaving a significant psychological impact on themselves. Third, epilepsy patients usually possess a fairly obvious sense of inferiority, feeling unable to lift their heads in front of others. Fourth, complex psychological disturbances, where epilepsy patients typically experience coexisting psychological disorders, such as simultaneous anxiety and depression, or compulsions coexisting with depression. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy must pay close attention to the psychological expressions of the patients.