Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder that causes seizures. In fact, the symptoms vary greatly depending on which type of epilepsy the patient has. Well, to be able to recognize this disease, here are the characteristics of epilepsy that you need to know.
Symptoms of epilepsy in infants, children, and adults
Epilepsy is a disease that requires immediate treatment when a person experiences symptoms. Because symptoms that last a long time or recur without treatment can cause brain damage and can lead to death.
That is why, you really need to know the various signs of epilepsy that occur in infants, children, and adults. More details, let’s discuss one by one the signs and symptoms of epilepsy below.
1. Seizures
Electrical activity is not only in the heart, but also in the brain. When the electrical activity in the brain becomes abnormal due to epilepsy, it can cause the body to convulse. This abnormality is characterized by nerve cells in the brain working faster and with less control than usual.
Symptoms of seizures due to epilepsy can appear in infants, children, and adults. Usually, it is characterized by the sufferer stomping his body suddenly and repeatedly.
Followed by the jaw closing tightly or biting the tongue. In some cases, this symptom is also followed by excessive contraction of the bladder that makes the sufferer pee in his pants (wetting the bed).
This jerking of the body can be all over, part of the body, or only on certain body parts, for example, stamping on the legs and arms. In fact, there are also those who only stomp a few fingers, such as shaking (tremor) .
How big the area of the body affected by this seizure indicates, how much of the brain area is the electrical activity disturbed.
It should be reminded again that epileptic seizures are different from ordinary seizures. Because people without epilepsy can have seizures. The difference is that people with epilepsy will experience repeated seizures suddenly, while people without epilepsy will experience it only once.
2. Loss of consciousness
Seizures that affect the whole body make the sufferer lose consciousness. That is, the person loses control of his own body.
When these signs and symptoms of epilepsy occur, they will generally fall. Worse, they can have accidents, for example when climbing or descending hands and driving a vehicle. As a result, they will suffer injuries to their heads or other body parts.
Others may experience fainting after 1 to 2 minutes of having a full-body spasm.
3. Staring blankly and not responding
Seizures in epileptic patients are not only indicated by body jerking. Some of them experience symptoms of epileptic seizures such as staring blankly at one point and not responding (dreaming).
This sign of epilepsy causes the sufferer to lose consciousness briefly, ie for a few seconds. If the patient is doing activities, then they will stop and be still for a few seconds. This condition is included in the symptoms of mild epilepsy.
The duration is very short, but can occur several times a day. Sometimes the appearance of symptoms is not realized by the sufferer that they are having a relapse. Most likely the sufferer just feels something is missing.
4. Showing unusual behavior
In addition to stomping the body, people who are experiencing relapse of epilepsy symptoms are very likely to perform abnormal actions. For example, leaning forward or backward for a while.
Reporting from the National Health Service page, the characteristics that can be seen physically in children and adults with epilepsy that involve abnormal behavior include:
1. Chewing mouth when not eating.
2. Rubbing hands even though hands are not dirty or the air is not cold.
3. Makes indistinct sounds from the mouth.
4. Performing repetitive movements, such as hitting the mouth, getting up and standing, or other behavior that doesn’t serve a purpose.
2. The muscles of the body are stiff or even weakened
When seizures occur, the characteristics of other accompanying epilepsy are the muscles of the body become stiff. This causes the wrists or feet and fingers to become curved or bent.
In some people, muscle tone will disappear suddenly. This condition causes the body to become weak and make the sufferer fall drooping. These symptoms can last up to 20 seconds.
5. Having problems with the five senses
Not all people with epilepsy will experience seizures. Some of them have problems with the five senses. This may occur when the part of the brain that controls the senses experiences abnormal electrical activity.
These symptoms can include visual disturbances, such as blurred or double vision. It can also cause hearing loss, not being able to taste food, or touch (numbness). Symptoms that attack your sensory abilities are often referred to as “aura”.
6. Other signs and symptoms of epilepsy
In addition to the signs and symptoms above, some patients may also experience the following symptoms:
1. There is a tingling sensation in the stomach known as “gastric uprising”.
2. Experiencing a sensation of déjà vu , feeling fear or pleasure for no apparent reason and other complex psychological phenomena.
3. In children, the characteristics of epilepsy cause symptoms of dizziness or sleep terrors, namely screaming, sweating, and stomping feet or 4. body at night. While in infants, the characteristics of epilepsy shown are fast blinking eyes.
When should you see a doctor if you have epilepsy symptoms?
If you experience any of the signs and symptoms listed above, see your doctor immediately or call for emergency medical care. Especially when exhibiting any of the following conditions:
1. The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
2. Consciousness does not return after the seizure stops.
3. After the seizures stopped, soon a second seizure appeared.
4. Have a seizure with a high fever.
5. Injuring yourself during a seizure.
6. You are a diabetic or are pregnant women