Epilepsy is a neurological or a central nervous system related disorder causing the brain activity to become unusual, and resulting in seizures or intervals of strange behaviour, unusual sensations and sometimes loss of consciousness as well. Epilepsy impacts females and males of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and races universally.

The symptoms of epilepsy may fluctuate. While some individuals with epilepsy stare blankly for a couple of seconds during a seizure, others may also display twitching of their legs or arms. Having one out of a seizure is not enough to term it as epilepsy and at least two seizures must have happened before an epilepsy diagnosis can be made.

Seizures can be controlled by treatment with surgery and/or drugs. For some people, seizures disappear on their own, whereas for others, treatment may be required to manage seizures. Also, some kids with epilepsy eventually also have been seen to outgrow the illness.

The most visible and repeated symptom of epilepsy is recurrent seizures. In case one or more of the symptoms mentioned below are displayed by the patients, a physician should be consulted by the patient, more so if there are recurrent bouts

• A convulsion, while there is no fever
• short bouts of the blackout, or memory loss
• intermittent fainting spells, accompanied by loss of control on intestine or bladder, often also followed by intense fatigue
• Small bouts of, non-responsiveness to direction or queries, by the impacted man or woman
• The impacted Individual becomes rigid, suddenly, for no evident reason
• The Individual unexpectedly falls for no apparent reason
• There could be unexpected bouts of blinking without any obvious stimuli
• Unexpected bouts of chewing, for no obvious reason
• In a daze and inability to communicate anything for short periods
• Repetitive and non-required movement
• Unexplained fearfulness or too much fear or agitation without any apparent reason
• Changes in perceptions of odour, touch, and audio, without any reason
• In babies, the arms, legs, or body may jerk and appear as a bunch of rapid rotational motions

While such condition must be treated, sometimes other similar symptoms may be presented and are sometimes misdiagnosed as epilepsy. E.g.

• Psychogenic seizures
• Fainting, Fear attacks
• High fever with epilepsy-like symptoms
• Cataplexy, or intervals of intense muscle fatigue
• Sleep disorders, Nightmares
• Fugue states, a rare psychiatric illness
• Narcolepsy, or persistent episodes of sleep during the daytime

Causes of Epilepsy

Epilepsy has no specifically known and identifiable caused, for about half of those impacted by the illness. For the rest of the impacted, the condition may be traced to various other factors e.g.

• Genetic influence – Some kinds of epilepsy, that can be categorized by the type of seizure encountered or the region of the brain that’s affected, and those running in families. It is very likely that there is a genetic effect esp. for such blood-related individuals.
• Enzyme link – Scientists have linked enzymes to some kinds of epilepsy, but genes are a more dominant cause for epilepsy as certain genes can make a person more sensitive to conditions.
• Head trauma – Head injury because of a vehicle crash or other traumatic accident may lead to epilepsy.
• Brain ailments – Brain ailments that cause harm to the brain, such as brain tumours or strokes, may lead to epilepsy. In adults older than age 35, stroke is a major cause of epilepsy.
• Infectious Diseases – Infectious diseases, such as meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis, can also lead to epilepsy.
• Prenatal harm – Before birth, infants are susceptible to brain damage that may result from numerous things, like an illness in the mother, inadequate nourishment or oxygen deficiencies and this brain damage could lead to cerebral palsy or epilepsy.
• Developmental ailments – Epilepsy can occasionally be related to developmental disorders, such as autism and neurofibromatosis.

How do I avoid Epilepsy?

In somebody with epilepsy, certain causes may trigger a seizure. Hence it is important to identify and observe for environments behaviours, or psychological and physical signs that precede such episodes.  It is not unusual, for instance, to feel upset or elated a few hours before some grand seizure, esp. immediately before the strike of seizures. It is important to get a nursing care plan for epilepsy patients.

Additionally, the individual may become sensate of warning “signals” – maybe a taste or odour sensitivity. This warning can permit you to lie down in time to prevent falling. In scenarios where the air has an odour, some folks can fight Infection by sniffing powerful odours, like roses or garlic. When the preliminary indications include melancholy, irritability, or aggravation, an extra dose of prescribed medication can help stop an attack. In instances of a Jacksonian seizure, firmly squeezing the muscles around the ones which are twitching may occasionally stop the seizure. To avoid any kind of risks one is recommended to get nursing care for epilepsy.

If seizures aren’t completely controlled by taking precautions, one must prevent or limit alcohol, comply with country’s needs to get a seizure-free interval before driving a car and instruct family members on measures to minimize harm while experiencing a seizure. Tell them also to roll you over onto sides in case you lose consciousness (this helps prevent choking on oral fluids), and also to guard you against falling to prevent any injury or paralysis. Nursing interventions for epilepsy patients make sure that the patient doesn’t go overboard and takes things easy.

Remedy for Epilepsy

While doctors start the treatment with medication, they may suggest a different kind of therapy or surgery if drugs are not able to deal effectively with the illness.

Medicine for Epilepsy

One dosage of anti-epileptic medicine, that generally frees all of the symptoms is taken and impacts most people positively and helps them get seizure-free. However, for others that do not respond to this medication, they may use a combination of medication and nursing interventions for epilepsy to lower the frequency and seriousness of the seizures.

Many young children who had epilepsy during childhood can also lead a seizure-free life even after discontinuing drugs after they grow up. Medications may be discontinued by adults with no seizures after at least two years from the last one. The health care provider will be the best advisor to help you guide through the discontinuation of the seizure medications.

Arriving at the most suitable medication and the correct dosage for each one is a little complicated though. The doctor will consider age, frequency of seizures, illness and other variables when choosing the right medicine and the specific dosages to prescribe. The health care provider will also examine any additional medications you might be taking, to help avoid reactions between the two set of medications.  The physician might increase the dosage until the seizures are well-controlled and probably will prescribe a medication single dosage medication post control is established.

Most drugs may have any side effects that include

• tiredness
• Dizziness
• Weight gain
• Bone density reduction
• Skin problems
• Lack of coordination
• Speech issues
• Memory and believing problems

Severe side effects though not common could be as follows

• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Intense rashness
• Inflammation of certain organs, like the liver

For the best seizure control possible with drugs, the following steps should be followed

• Regular medication as per the prescription
• Before switching to a generic version of medicine or taking other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication or herbal remedies, always taking the treating doctor into confidence and obtaining her prior clearance.
• Never discontinuing medicine without physician clearance.
• Inform the physician immediately in the event of any new or improved/deteriorated feelings of depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in mood or behaviour.
• Communicate to health care providers in cases of migraines. Doctors may prescribe one of those drugs that cure epilepsy and could stop your migraines.
• At least half of the individuals will wind up seizure-free using their medicine. If satisfactory results aren’t provided by drugs, your physician may suggest surgery or alternative therapies. You may have to go through appointments with other physicians as well.

Exercise is great for everybody, and it has special benefits for those who have epilepsy! Though in rare and unique conditions, seizures may also be triggered by exercise. Generally, exercise doesn’t worsen, and it might enhance seizure control through general wellbeing. Therefore it is recommended to get nursing care for epilepsy to avoid anything serious.

Individuals with epilepsy can safely take part in many sports. Contact sports have never been demonstrated to trigger migraines. Water sports are secure if seizures are controlled and there is an immediate manager present. 

Caution or care is required with sport between peaks such as some kind of gymnastics and active sports – e.g. parallel bars and irregular bars or horse riding. 

Sports which involve extreme danger if a seizure must occur, for example, hang-gliding, scuba-diving, downhill ski, free scaling, and automobile or motorbike racing aren’t suggested. 

Additional care is essential for men and women that have frequent seizures, or whose epilepsy is accompanied with additional disabilities.

Most sports activities are secure but it is sensible to prevent overexertion, getting dehydrated and hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose as these scenarios can raise the possibility of seizure recurrence.

Ensure that you get the finest possible nursing care plan for epilepsy patient or midwife is vital if you’re in the hospital after a seizure, visiting an epilepsy clinic as an inpatient, preparing to have a kid, or being cared for at home. A brand-new code that outlines what you must expect and also what care must look like has been generated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The code sets out the criteria midwives and nurses need to keep focusing on four areas

• Prioritizing people
• practising effectively
• preserving security
• promoting trust and professionalism.

The code explains what you can do if you’re not happy about the care you’re currently getting.

As patient recovery is ensured by post-operative nursing care, postoperative care is a vital element of the curing process. Post-operative care for individuals might be easy and may be short term or long term or may entail procedure for a few.

In case of long term post-operative care, a patient is much better off within the warmth of home rather than a hospital. Aiding this kind of care is something that we provide from our home care nursing services. As a part of our services, our group of nurses and other caregivers, would come and see you and offer care. In some cases of nursing care for epilepsy, the nurse may remain with the individual for 24*7 monitoring and attention.

Therefore, if you require nursing care plan for epilepsy patient in your home, look no further and trust your loved ones’ care to Care24 and we guarantee a satisfactory and quick recovery of the individual in the most effective and fastest way possible.