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Contact: Amy Blaser

(COLUMBUS, Neb.) – Epilepsy is more common than you might think. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that about one in 26 people will develop this brain disorder during their lifetime, which means it will likely affect someone you know.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes a person to have repeated seizures, which are sudden behavior changes caused by a disturbance in the brain's normal electrical patterns. There are two main types of seizures:

• Generalized seizures, which affect both sides of the brain at once.
• Focal seizures, which start in just one area of the brain.

A seizure may cause a person to stare into space, act confused, rhythmically move their limbs, drool, lose bladder or bowel control, lose consciousness, or fall down and shake. If you think you or a loved one might be having seizures, tell your doctor, who may refer you to a neurologist for testing.

Diagnosing epilepsy

Not all seizures are caused by epilepsy. Usually, doctors diagnose epilepsy if a person has two or more seizures not caused by a known medical condition. They will evaluate a person’s medical history and carefully consider all the information about their seizures before making a diagnosis. They may also recommend computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, an electroencephalogram (EEG) or other diagnostic tests to determine what is causing the seizures.

Treatment can help

If you do have epilepsy, your doctor will most likely prescribe an antiepileptic medication, which may control seizures in up to 70% of people. Other treatment options include dietary changes or surgery for those with hard-to-control seizures.

Helping during a seizure

If someone around you has a seizure, you can help by:

• Being calm and staying with them.
• Helping them to the ground gently if they appear to be falling.
• Removing anything nearby that could injure them.
• Checking for a medical bracelet about their condition.
• Keeping their airway clear by turning them on their side (if they're lying down) with their mouth angled toward the ground.
• Calling 911 if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes.

Necessary precautions with epilepsy

Even with adequate treatment, seizures can be unpredictable. It is important to know the following if you have epilepsy or support someone who has it:

• Driving restrictions may apply until adequate control of seizures is confirmed by the treating physician.
• Swimming should always be done in pairs. This is especially true for those with a seizure history.
• Tub baths are generally not recommended. A seizure in a bathtub filled with water can lead to drowning.
• Climbing heights is especially dangerous for those with seizure potential.

Are childhood or infant seizures caused by fever related to epilepsy?
No, what we refer to as febrile seizures under the age of 5 are not thought to be epileptic in nature. Children experiencing febrile seizure have only a minimal increased chance of developing epilepsy in later life.

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Dr. Mark Howerter is the chief medical officer at Columbus Community Hospital.