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Types of epilepsy and its symptoms. Epilepsy is a psychological seizure that may affect anyone, whether male or female, at different ages. Many people do not know the types of epilepsy and its symptoms. What is epilepsy? What are the types of epilepsy and its symptoms, the causes of this disease and how to treat it.

Psychogenic epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a psychological disease that affects the nervous system, where the nervous system has abnormal activity, which leads to seizures of abnormal behaviors or sensations, and in some cases it can lead to fainting.
• It is known to many that psychological epilepsy occurs due to an increase in nerve electrical levels in the brain, but epilepsy can also occur due to an imbalance in communication between the centers of the brain, causing the same symptoms as epilepsy.
• The state of the brain returns to its normal state after the end of the seizures that occur due to the imbalance that occurs in the electrical signals in the brain and results in psychogenic epilepsy.
• There is no specific race, gender, or age for developing psychogenic epilepsy. It can affect both males and females at any age.

Types of epilepsy and its symptoms

• Types of epilepsy in general are divided into 3 main types: simple partial epilepsy, total epilepsy, and general secondary epilepsy, and each of these types includes various other types of epilepsy.
• The type of epilepsy that the patient suffers from is determined by doctors based on the form of convulsions that occur in the epilepsy patient and according to the affected part of the brain in which an imbalance in electrical signals occurred and led to the occurrence of these convulsions.
• The symptoms of epilepsy vary greatly from one person to another, some of which are mild and others lead to severe convulsions that may lead to loss of consciousness.
• The most prominent symptoms of epilepsy are those whose eyes bulge and stare only into space. Some of them have their legs or hands tremble during an epileptic seizure, and some have convulsions in the entire body and cause fainting.
• The main and common symptom in all types of epilepsy is recurrent seizures due to a sudden imbalance in the brain’s neuroelectrical function, and one of the effects of these seizures is the distortion of the affected person’s memory.
• Some people have simple epileptic seizures that last for a few seconds, but if the seizures recur and there are other symptoms of epilepsy, it is recommended to go to a psychiatrist as soon as possible.
• According to recent studies and research, all types of epilepsy are not contagious and are not transmitted from one person to another, but they affect brain functions, including the natural functions of the body that the brain is responsible for.

Types of epilepsy

Scientists have divided the types of epilepsy according to the affected part of the brain into 3 main types as follows:

1- Partial epilepsy

Partial epilepsy or simple epilepsy occurs due to an imbalance in the activity of one part of the brain. There are two types:

Simple partial epilepsy

This type may not be noticed, as the affected person is fully aware of what is going on around him and has a high level of awareness even during the most severe times of an epileptic attack.

Complex partial epilepsy

• The affected person’s awareness is almost non-existent, he is unaware of his surroundings, and he may not remember that the seizure occurred in the first place.

2- Total epilepsy

• This type is considered one of the most dangerous types of epilepsy, as the electrical activity of the brain is disturbed in both hemispheres of the brain, that is, the entire brain, which results in a severe epileptic seizure that leads to the affected person losing consciousness.
• There are several subtypes of total epilepsy, the most common of which are the following

Epileptic seizures and clonic convulsions

This type is considered the most common type of total epilepsy, and in the past it was called a massive seizure due to the loss of consciousness that occurs to the affected person, along with body stiffness and concussion.

Absence seizures

Or petit mal seizures, they are also one of the most common types of epilepsy, in which the affected person loses consciousness for a short period, his eyes bulge out, and he stares into space. This type responds well to treatment.

Convulsive seizures

In this type, the person suffers from a bout of convulsions that leads to the body becoming stiff and losing its balance suddenly, and loss of consciousness may occur for a short period.

Convulsive epileptic seizures

In this type, the affected person’s muscles lose their strength, which leads to a loss of balance and the person to fall.

Clonic epileptic seizures

• A person with this type of epilepsy experiences a shaking movement or trembling in the face, one of the arms, or one of the legs.
• Muscle concussion attacks, in which strong spasms occur in the upper body or legs.

3- Secondary secondary epileptic seizures

The third type of epilepsy is general secondary epileptic seizures, which are partial epileptic seizures due to a defect in the activity of one part of the brain, but as the condition progresses, the defect extends to injury to both lobes of the brain, leading to the loss of consciousness of the affected person.

Symptoms of epilepsy

Identifying the symptoms of epilepsy is very important to know the type of epilepsy so that the doctor can deal with the patient in an optimal way and determine the appropriate treatment. The symptoms of epilepsy vary from one person to another depending on the type of epilepsy that the person suffers from. Among the most common symptoms of epilepsy are the following:

• Strong muscle cramps without fever.
• Memory confusion, especially during epileptic seizures.
• Frequent loss of consciousness for short or long periods.
• Loss of control of the muscles controlling the bowel and bladder during epileptic seizures.
• Lack of awareness, concentration, and loss of quick response when asked by the affected person.
• Stiffness and stiffness in the body or one part of the body suddenly and without a specific reason.
• He suddenly lost balance and fell to the ground.
• Closing and opening the eyelashes suddenly and repeatedly for no reason and without a stimulus such as bright light.
• Repeated bouts of chewing for no reason.
• Signs of temporary astonishment, astonishment, and a temporary inability to perceive and communicate.
• Repeated and sudden involuntary movements.
• Attacks of panic, anger, and anxiety.
• Obvious changes in the senses of touch, smell, hearing and vision.
• Frequent tremors in the body or arms and legs.

Symptoms of epilepsy in children

Children may suffer from epileptic seizures after the age of two years, and newborns may also suffer from it as a result of malnutrition or lack of oxygen. The most prominent symptoms of epilepsy in children are the following:

• Constant and repeated eye staring for no reason.
• Biting your lips.
• Fluttering of the eyelids.
• Repeated chewing episodes for no reason.
• Minor, recurring cramps in the arms or legs.
• Mild memory confusion during an epileptic seizure.
• A slight headache and some hallucinations.
• In some serious cases, the child may suddenly lose consciousness.

Causes of epilepsy

Many researches and studies have been conducted to find out the specific cause of epilepsy, but most of these studies have not identified a clear cause for the occurrence of epilepsy other than that it occurs due to increased electrical activity in the brain or loss of communication between the communication systems in the brain, which causes a disruption in brain function and the occurrence of epileptic seizures.

The most prominent causes of epilepsy or factors that may lead to epilepsy can be summarized as follows:

• Head injuries are one of the most prominent causes of epilepsy, such as being injured in a car accident or falling from a high place.
• The genetic factor. Many people suffer from epileptic seizures as a result of a relative’s infection.
• Mental and nervous diseases.
• Brain diseases such as strokes and brain tumors.
• Some infectious diseases such as viral encephalitis and meningitis.
• Brain damage that occurs before birth.
• Developmental disorders such as autism and neurofibromatosis.
• Some research also indicates that AIDS can lead to epileptic seizures.

Epilepsy treatment

Epilepsy can be treated by preventing the causes of epileptic seizures, but there is no specific treatment that completely cures epilepsy. Among the methods that doctors follow in treating epilepsy are the following:

1- Medical medications

• Medical medications are the most popular methods of treating epilepsy. According to the American Epilepsy Association, the cure rate for medical medications reaches 60-70% of cases of psychogenic epilepsy.
• The medications used to treat epilepsy or reduce epileptic seizures are many and different, and the doctor determines the appropriate medications for the type of epilepsy that the person suffers from.
• It should be noted that the usefulness and effectiveness of certain medications in the case of a person with epilepsy is not a condition for their effectiveness in another person with epilepsy, and therefore it is necessary to consult a doctor about the appropriate medications for treatment.

2- Surgical intervention

• Surgical intervention may be the last solution to treat epilepsy, but more than one drug treatment must be tried first, and if the medications do not work, then surgical intervention is a good solution to treat the problem.
• To avoid the recurrence of epileptic seizures, doctors advise continuing to take anti-seizure medications. This means that surgical intervention is not a final solution for treating epilepsy.
• According to a recent study, it was confirmed that 62% of adults and 50% of children with epilepsy did not show symptoms of epilepsy or did not experience epileptic seizures for 7 years after surgery to treat epilepsy.
• According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the United States, surgical intervention to treat epilepsy occurs in one of the following places
  • Lobectomy, which relies on removing part of one hemisphere of the brain from which epileptic seizures begin. This surgery is considered the oldest type of surgery to treat epilepsy.
  • Cutting nerve connections. This surgery depends on cutting the nerve connections responsible for communication between the two halves of the brain, in order to prevent the spread of epileptic seizures that start from one part of the brain and prevent them from spreading to other parts.
  • Cerebral cortex resection: In emergency cases, doctors may resort to removing approximately half of the cerebral cortex to reduce the recurrence of epileptic seizures.

3- Nutritional therapy

• Healthy food and following healthy diets are among the most important things that protect against many diseases, and some types of foods can reduce epileptic seizures.
• A research study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reported that foods high in fat and low in carbohydrates are beneficial in reducing epileptic seizures in children and adults.
• One of the most popular diets recommended by doctors that has proven effective in reducing epileptic seizures is the Atkins diet, which is based on eggs, bacon, avocados, dairy products, nuts, fish, and some fruits and vegetables.
• According to studies conducted on this diet in treating epilepsy, it was found that 32% of those studied who adhered to this diet found that their epileptic seizures decreased by 50% and the seizures became semi-regular and not sudden.

Epilepsy prevention

According to what was confirmed by the World Health Organization, types of epilepsy can be prevented by 25% by following the following steps:

• Wear helmets when riding bicycles and motorcycles to reduce head injuries, since head injuries are one of the most common causes of epilepsy.
• The necessity of health care for the pregnant mother during pregnancy and after birth, to avoid epilepsy resulting from pregnancy and birth injuries.
• Managing risk factors for strokes and heart diseases, which can cause brain damage that eventually leads to epilepsy.
• Maintain regular and continuous exercise. According to recent research, it has been proven that exercise and regular physical activity significantly reduce epileptic seizures.

Does epilepsy die?

• Most Atkins seizures are sudden, and in some types of epilepsy they are severe and lead to loss of balance, falling to the ground, and fainting.
• Therefore, in some rare cases, epileptic seizures may lead to drowning, falling from a high place, or causing fatal accidents, leading to death, but these cases are almost rare.
• Also, some severe epileptic seizures lead to loss of consciousness for a long time, cause interruption of breathing, or cause failure in some heart functions, which ultimately leads to death.

There are many types of epilepsy and its symptoms and vary from one affected person to another. In general, mental illnesses are among the most difficult diseases that doctors face, but they can be overcome if they are discovered at the beginning. Therefore, if any of the symptoms of epilepsy appear, it is necessary to consult a specialist doctor to ensure the safety and health of the person and to give appropriate treatment. Treat the problem early.