1. Epilepsy

2. What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterised by a tendency to have recurrent seizures and defined by two or more unprovoked seizures.
It is a neurological condition, which affects the nervous system. Epilepsy is also known as a seizure disorder.

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Seizures
Seizures may vary from the briefest lapses of attention or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions.
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4. Coffs Harbour Divisional Training
Seizures
They may also vary in frequency, from less than one a year to several per day.
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5. Coffs Harbour Divisional Training
Seizures
The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but most of the time the cause is unknown.
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6. What is a Seizure? Seizures are not a disease in themselves.
A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that usually affects how a person feels or acts for a short time.
Seizures are not a disease in themselves.

7. What is a Seizure?
Instead, they are a symptom of many different disorders that can affect the brain.

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What is a Seizure?
Some seizures can hardly be noticed, while others are totally disabling.
About half of the people who have one seizure without a clear cause will have another one, usually within 6 months.
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9. Tonic-clonic seizures
Tonic-clonic seizures are a type of generalised seizure affecting the entire brain.
Formerly known as grand mal seizures or gran mal seizures.
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10. Tonic-clonic seizures
Tonic-clonic seizures are the seizure type most commonly associated with Epilepsy and seizures in general, though it is a misconception that they are the only type.
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11. Tonic-clonic seizures
If a Tonic–clonic seizure occurs, first aid will be needed.
It starts suddenly but seldom lasts longer than minutes.
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What Causes Epilepsy?
There is a fine balance in the brain between factors that begin electrical activity and factors that restrict it, and there are also systems that limit the spread of electrical activity.
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What Causes Epilepsy?
During a seizure, these limits break down, and abnormal electrical discharges can occur and spread to whole groups of neighbouring cells at once.
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What Causes Epilepsy?
This linkage of electrical discharges creates a "storm" of electrical activity in the brain. This is a seizure.
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Coffs Harbour Divisional Training

15. What Causes Epilepsy?
Therefore, seizures are a result of sudden, usually brief, excessive electrical discharge in a group of brain cells (neurones).
2 cells with about a dozen connections

16. What Causes Epilepsy?
Sometimes they involve the whole brain, sometimes only part of the brain.
The cause is unknown for about half of everyone with epilepsy.
2 cells with about a dozen connections

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What Causes Epilepsy?
Children may be born with a defect in the structure of their brain, or they may suffer a head injury or infection that causes their epilepsy.
Severe head injury is the most common known cause in young adults.
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What Causes Epilepsy?
In middle age, strokes, tumors, and injuries are more frequent.
In people over 65, stroke is the most common known cause, followed by degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease
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19. Factors Missed medication Lack of sleep
Illness (both with and without fever)
Severe psychological stress
Heavy alcohol use

20. Factors Use of cocaine and other recreational drugs such as ecstasy
Over-the-counter or prescription medications or supplements that decrease the effectiveness of seizure medicines

21. Nutritional deficiencies: vitamins and minerals The menstrual cycle
Factors
Nutritional deficiencies: vitamins and minerals
The menstrual cycle

22. Signs & Symptoms Sudden cry out
Fall to the ground—sometimes resulting in injury
Stiffen and lie rigid for a few seconds
Rhythmic jerking muscular movements

23. Signs & Symptoms Very pale and have blue tinged lips
Excessive saliva from mouth
Sometimes bite the tongue or cheek, resulting in blood in the saliva
Lost of bladder or bowel control
Extremely tired, confused or agitated afterwards

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Management
During the seizure
DO NOT try and restrain the person
DO NOT put anything in the mouth
DO NOT move the person unless in danger
Protect the casualty from injury
Place something soft under head and shoulders
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Coffs Harbour Divisional Training

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Management
After the seizure
DRSABCD
Keep airway clear by placing casualty on side in recovery position as soon as jerking stops, or immediately if they have vomited or have food or fluid in their mouth
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Coffs Harbour Divisional Training

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Management
After the seizure
Oxygen 8 – 15 lpm if requirerd
Manage any injuries resulting from the seizure
DO NOT disturb if casualty falls asleep but continue to check vital signs.
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Coffs Harbour Divisional Training

27. Coffs Harbour Divisional Training
Management
Call an ambulance if:
The seizure continues for more than 5 minutes
Another seizure quickly follows
The person has been injured
The person has a history of diabetes
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Coffs Harbour Divisional Training

28. Coffs Harbour Divisional Training
Questions
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Coffs Harbour Divisional Training