First Aid/Epilepsy

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Epilepsy is a generalised name given to forms of seizures resulting from damage to certain areas of the brain, notably the Temporal Lobe and the Hippocampus, although others are affected. It manifests in different forms, ranging from Petit Mal seizures, where the experience is of the patient appearing to daydream, or sometimes drool, through to Tonic-Clonic or Grand Mal seizures, which involve loss of consciousness, uncontrolled shaking (often quite violent) and can include loss of bladder and bowel control. In some cases, Basic life support is required during an Epileptic Seizure (also known as a "fit").

Subforms of Epilepsy[edit]

Epileptic seizures can have many different trigger factors - some of the most common include:

  1. Photosensitivity - The patient suffers a seizure as the result of viewing rapidly flashing lights, such as strobes on an emergency vehicle, or flickering on the TV or a computer monitor. This is usually generated as the result of issues within the Temporal lobe.
  2. Stress - Simple stress such as too much work, or having a lot of pressure in your job can also trigger Epileptic seizures. These are not as detectable as other kinds, and may be passed over as a one-off.
  3. Fixation - Although rare, Fixation based Epilepsy has been noted as being present in roughly 1 in every 100,000 sufferers. A seizure fires as a result of a patient fixing their gaze on something for too long, usually a repetitive pattern on wallpaper, or a room with many things the same colour (beige walls and carpets for example).