Can acquired epilepsy be treated?

Written by Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
Updated on December 20, 2024
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Acquired epilepsy can be treated.

Most cases of acquired epilepsy are due to some organic lesions, also known clinically as secondary epilepsy, primarily treated by addressing the underlying disease. Common clinical conditions include brain organic lesions such as cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, brain tumor, encephalitis, and brain parasitic infections. Systemic diseases like diabetes and hyperparathyroidism can also lead to epilepsy.

If epilepsy persists or if there is a major epileptic seizure, it can lead to brain cell hypoxia and even brain edema in severe cases. When necessary, treatments to protect the brain and reduce intracranial pressure are required. Medications for brain protection include Cytidine Diphosphate Choline and Lacosamide, while drugs to lower blood pressure mainly include Mannitol, Glycerol Fructose, and Furosemide. Most patients potentially can be carefully cured through the treatment of the underlying disease, and if seizures persist after the treatment of the primary disease, antiepileptic drugs should be administered.

(The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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Can mild epilepsy be treated?

Mild epilepsy is treatable. If the patient is experiencing their first seizure or if the seizures are infrequent, it’s generally appropriate to observe clinically and not rush to use anti-epileptic drugs. Such patients typically experience only very mild neurological symptoms during a seizure, such as limb weakness, numbness, or facial droop. However, if the patient's seizures occur frequently, it is necessary to control the symptoms with anti-epileptic medications, which often include drugs such as levetiracetam, gabapentin, sodium valproate, and lamotrigine. Patients with mild epilepsy should also work on strengthening their exercise routines, maintaining a calm mind, and getting sufficient sleep to help prevent seizures to a certain extent. If the patient's condition worsens or becomes intractable epilepsy, surgical treatment methods may be considered to control the symptoms.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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Can epilepsy patients drink water frequently in their daily life?

Patients with epilepsy can often drink water in their daily lives, but they should pay attention to the amount of water they drink and not consume too much at once. Drinking too much water in a short period can lead to increased urination, and an increase in the frequency of urination could potentially trigger a seizure. Additionally, patients should try to reduce their water intake during a seizure episode. Drinking water during a seizure can easily cause choking or even suffocation. Therefore, patients with epilepsy need to pay attention to adjusting their diet and lifestyle. Moreover, patients need to take long-term medication to prevent seizures, including commonly used drugs such as carbamazepine and sodium valproate. In hot weather, patients with epilepsy still need to hydrate appropriately; otherwise, dehydration and low blood pressure can occur, which can also easily trigger a seizure.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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What causes epilepsy in children?

The causes of epilepsy in children primarily include congenital factors and acquired factors. Congenital factors are mainly due to premature birth, difficult labor, umbilical cord around the neck, neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, drug factors, etc. Acquired factors mainly include brain trauma, central nervous system infections, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial tumors, and other causes. Therefore, when a child exhibits symptoms of epilepsy, it is necessary to promptly visit the department of neurology to conduct relevant examinations to determine the cause. The examination methods mainly include CT, MRI, EEG, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc. After identifying the cause, symptomatic treatment methods should be adopted to control the symptoms of epilepsy episodes. In clinical practice, controlling epilepsy is mainly achieved through drug treatment, with commonly used medications including carbamazepine, sodium valproate, gabapentin, etc. For some patients with refractory epilepsy, surgical treatments may also be used to control symptoms.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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What are the initial symptoms of sleep-related epilepsy?

The initial symptoms of sleep-related epilepsy mainly include sudden opening of the eyes and panic symptoms at the onset of sleep. A few patients may exhibit aggressive behavior towards others, and some may experience movement disorders and abnormal muscle tone. For these patients, it is necessary to promptly receive examinations and treatment in neurology. Diagnostic methods mainly include video EEG, ambulatory EEG, cranial CT, and MRI, among others. Once diagnosed, timely intervention should be provided. For some patients, if it is the first seizure and not frequent, interventions through lifestyle and sleep adjustments can be implemented without immediately resorting to medication. If these adjustments are ineffective or if the patient frequently experiences seizures, appropriate medications should be administered in a timely manner, including drugs such as sodium valproate, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and levetiracetam, among others. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
1min 19sec home-news-image

Can acquired epilepsy be treated?

Acquired epilepsy can be treated. Most cases of acquired epilepsy are due to some organic lesions, also known clinically as secondary epilepsy, primarily treated by addressing the underlying disease. Common clinical conditions include brain organic lesions such as cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, brain tumor, encephalitis, and brain parasitic infections. Systemic diseases like diabetes and hyperparathyroidism can also lead to epilepsy. If epilepsy persists or if there is a major epileptic seizure, it can lead to brain cell hypoxia and even brain edema in severe cases. When necessary, treatments to protect the brain and reduce intracranial pressure are required. Medications for brain protection include Cytidine Diphosphate Choline and Lacosamide, while drugs to lower blood pressure mainly include Mannitol, Glycerol Fructose, and Furosemide. Most patients potentially can be carefully cured through the treatment of the underlying disease, and if seizures persist after the treatment of the primary disease, antiepileptic drugs should be administered. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)