Short circuit in brain – Seizure / convulsions / epilepsy

Brain – the main switch of our body, controls all parts of our body through the wired network (nerves). Brain cells send signals as electrical impulses to the periphery for every action. Any spark or voltage fluctuations or interruptions or flickering (abnormal brain signals or activity) can cause short circuit (i.e., tic / twitch / spasm / seizure / convulsions / epilepsy complaints) in connections and communications – seizure disorders. It is just like an error code transmitted in brain cells (neurons). It can also go for fuse off the brain (death) when there is persistent spark or flickering (sustained twitching or seizure / status epilepticus) when care is not taken / given properly to control it.

Generally, brain dysfunction can cause loss or lack of conscious / memory level, poor concentration, drowsiness, tic, twitch, spasm, sleepiness / sleeplessness, seizure, epilepsy, coma, etc. Any injury or disturbances to brain or its coverings can cause or trigger abnormal signals / functions which can lead one to seizures, so one needs to take care more of the head to avoid spreading infections / diseases and head injury.

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Seizure disorder is one of the most feared diseases or dysfunctions of brain since it can occur on any occasion, on any day, any time and under any circumstances. Also, it can occur in any part / side of the body or the whole body. Here, the sufferer will not know about the suffered activity, but bystanders or family members fear more on seeing the violent nature of the seizure.

Even though no one could guarantee for the cure, seizure sufferers can surely lead a comfortable normal life with out any difficulty with proper treatment. They can all enjoy life with some precautions (avoiding alcohol, driving, swimming, and working in machineries which can endanger life). They also need not fear about day-to-day activities, marriage, reproductive health, children health status, etc. In fact, sleeplessness, fever, anxiety and panic / fear, worries, tension, etc., can enter error coding then and there in the brain to trigger seizures / epilepsy.

Embarrassment and annoying disappointment causes more complaints than the real suffering, i.e., constant weakness, mental upset / depression, etc. Like wise, even though most of the time, children can outgrow the tendency, it is often feared for disturbance in the intelligence of children, brain problems like tumours in future, etc. It is not true scientifically. But one needs to take more care while selecting appropriate medicines and dosage, since overdose of anticonvulsant medicines usually suppress the brain altogether. In this case, the sufferer will always feel dullness, sleepiness and lacks interest, concentration and learning skills.

Seizure Seize generally means a sudden action taken for possessing something or to hold suddenly. Seizure spells often paralyse the function (of brain) temporarily or of a sudden. Here one can feel altered sensations or functions or both. Seizure disorders can cause a variety of involuntary symptoms, i.e., varying from simple black out / momentary loss of consciousness, strange look, a sharp and short twitch, muscle spasms, imbalance in gait, involuntary movements / jerks / chorea / dyskinesia / convulsions, fainting, frothy saliva due to spasm in lungs and throat, incontinence of bowels and bladder, etc., to coma. Here brain reacts to the sharp and short signals (These abnormal signals - spikes and waves can be read in EEG – Electroencephalography).

Spark (abnormal signal or foci), which remains in the start-up itself and goes off after a period, will reflect externally as localised seizure i.e., concerned with connecting area of brain. Sometimes, spark can spread to adjacent area to cause a mighty flame and can cause generalised seizure (whole body suffering).

Seizure disorders are of many varieties / types, i.e., simple seizure to chronic epilepsy. It may be with single or multiple attacks with or without consciousness. Seizure occurrence during sustained high temperature (febrile fits / convulsions) is one among them. It is common in children, since developing or child brain is more susceptible to abnormal signals. Here proper care should be given or otherwise later epilepsy gets roots here. Commonly, seizure complaints do not cause any brain damage, but can cause when it occurs very severely and in a sustained manner.

Epilepsy – is again an umbrella term used for a group of disorders arising in the brain (especially in cerebral cortex) - Epilepsy is a type of seizure disorder which has recurrent episode of seizures. It just means a chronic seizure tendency (which comes / recurs recurrently or repeatedly). Having seizure for the first time or during high temperature (febrile fits) should not be diagnosed as epilepsy.

In epilepsy, recurrent episode of conduction error occurs in the brain causing momentary loss / disturbance in consciousness, paroxysmal hyper synchronous jerky movements, violent contractions, drowsiness, headache and confusion. The abnormality may be noted in motor or psychic or sensory plane. It may be idiopathic (with unknown cause) or symptomatic (with known cause). As seizures, epilepsy can also be focal or generlised. Its nature, character, symptom presentation and intensity varies from person to person and triggering foci in the brain. Usually, it has 3 phases, i.e. Aura (starting phase), Ictus phase (attack) and Post ictus phase (exhausted ending phase).

• Aura – It is an altered (subjective / notion) feeling which alarms or warns the arrival of epilepsy. It can last for a minute to a day. It may be felt as altered sensation in hearing, vision, taste, smell, feeling, sensations, etc. Its presentation of feeling may vary from person to person. Aura signals commonly arise in the temporal lobe.

• Ictus – means the suffering period or attack of epilepsy. The suffering nature may also differ in different individuals with symptoms of loss of conscious, jerky movements (tonic / clonic contractions), sustained contractions / rigidity / spasms, catch / gasp in breath, drooling and frothing saliva, etc.

• Post Ictus – It is the ending phase of suffering. Sufferer may feel exhausted, tiredness, body pain, (due to violent jerky movements) confusion, sleepiness, lack of concentration, etc., for a day or two.

Incidences – Seizures can occur in any one, irrespective of age and sex when the brain gets disturbed or injured. More than 3 per cent of people suffer from one or other type of seizure / epilepsy disorders. Most of the seizure complaints set in in infantile period or childhood and get tapered in adolescent age with adaptability (?). Its occurrence seems to be more common in autism and mentally retarded children and in persons who have developmental or genetic errors. Infants suffer chiefly after oxygen deficiency / asphyxia (developed due to delay in conduction of delivery) or head injury (forceps delivery) or after violent crying (due to panic or fear) or after very high temperature or after serious illnesses. It is also more pronounced in persons who suffer from hormonal imbalance. Old people commonly suffer from seizure or epilepsy when they have cerebral palsy, tuberculosis, parasite infection (hydatid cyst), emotional upset, sleeplessness, brain atrophy, poor nutrition and as a reflection of tumours and other serious diseases.

(To be continued)