What is temporal lobe epilepsy?

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is epilepsy that starts in the temporal lobe area of your brain. You have two temporal lobes, one on each side of your head behind your temples (by your ears and in alignment with your eyes). TLE is the most common localized (also called “focal”) type of epilepsy.

What are different types of seizures?

There are many kinds of generalized seizures, including:

  • generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC)
  • tonic seizures.
  • clonic seizures.
  • absence seizures.
  • myoclonic seizures.
  • atonic seizures.
  • infantile or epileptic spasms.

What is dravet syndrome?

Definition. Dravet syndrome, previously called severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), is an epilepsy syndrome that begins in infancy or early childhood and can include a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

What triggers temporal lobe epilepsy?

Experts say some possible causes of temporal lobe seizures include: severe traumatic brain injury. infections or a history of infections like meningitis or encephalitis. scarring (gliosis) in the hippocampus part of the temporal lobe.

Is temporal lobe epilepsy a mental illness?

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), a subset of the seizure disorder family, represents a complex neuropsychiatric illness, where the neurological presentation may be complemented by varying severity of affective, behavioral, psychotic, or personality abnormalities, which, in turn, may not only lead to misdiagnosis, but also …

Do all seizures cause brain damage?

Most types of seizures do not cause damage to the brain. However, having a prolonged, uncontrolled seizure can cause harm. Because of this, treat any seizure lasting over 5 minutes as a medical emergency.

What triggers a seizure?

Fever, the physical stress of being sick, and dehydration (from not drinking or eating normally, or from vomiting) can all bring on seizures. It can also be hard to get a good night’s sleep while sick, and lack of sleep can be a trigger. Plus, some of the medications used to treat these ailments may be triggers.

What is the life expectancy of a child with Dravet syndrome?

The average life expectancy of people with Dravet syndrome is not clear, but estimates suggest that 10–20% of individuals with Dravet syndrome do not survive beyond the age of 10. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most common cause.

What is the rarest type of epilepsy?

What is Dravet syndrome? Dravet syndrome is a rare, genetic epileptic encephalopathy that gives rise to seizures that don’t respond well to seizure medications. It begins in the first year of life in an otherwise healthy infant.

What do you smell before seizure?

Seizures beginning in the temporal lobes may remain there, or they may spread to other areas of the brain. Depending on if and where the seizure spreads, the patient may experience the sensation of: A peculiar smell (such as burning rubber)

What is the best medication for temporal lobe epilepsy?

What Are the Treatments for Temporal Lobe Seizures?

  • Pregabalin (Lyrica)
  • Primidone (Mysoline)
  • Rufinamide (Banzel)
  • Tiagabine (Gabitril)
  • Topiramate (Topamax)
  • Valproic acid (Depakene)
  • Vigabatrin (Sabril)
  • Zonisamide (Zonegran)

Can seizures lead to dementia?

People with epilepsy develop Alzheimer’s disease at a rate 6 times higher than the non-epileptic population, and seizures can damage the memory centers of the brain and contribute to dementia.

Can a seizure change your personality?

Importance of Mood Disorders Mood disorders in people with epilepsy are very important and can greatly impact a person’s daily activities and quality of life. These feelings may be present most of the time, or appear just before, during, or after a seizure. Some people become depressed, others may be irritable.

Can you feel a seizure coming on?

Prodrome: Some people may experience feelings, sensations, or changes in behavior hours or days before a seizure. These feelings are generally not part of the seizure, but may warn a person that a seizure may come.

Can you fight off a seizure?

In cases where the aura is a smell, some people are able to fight off seizures by sniffing a strong odor, such as garlic or roses. When the preliminary signs include depression, irritability, or headache, an extra dose of medication (with a doctor’s approval) may help prevent an attack.

Can you outgrow Dravet syndrome?

Dravet syndrome is a rare, severe, and lifelong form of epilepsy (seizure disorder). Most people affected by this condition have a good life expectancy. The disease typically starts in the first year of life, and around 80-85% of the children survive into adulthood.

What does Dravet syndrome look like?

Symptoms of Dravet syndrome They may be tonic-clonic seizures (also called “grand mal” seizures), which involves convulsive movements (shaking) of the entire body. In many children with Dravet syndrome, the first seizure is a hemiclonic seizure, with jerking movements affecting only one side of the body.

Does epilepsy get worse with age?

The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.

Is epilepsy hereditary from mother?

If the father has epilepsy and the mother does not have epilepsy, the risk is slightly lower. If both parents have epilepsy, the risk is only a bit higher. If one parent has idiopathic epilepsy, the chances that their child will also have epilepsy is between nine percent and 12 percent.