Epilepsy Treatment: Medical Management and Current Therapeutic Approaches

Epilepsy: Comprehensive Medical Overview

There are many serious diseases occurring throughout the world. Scientific research is being conducted to eradicate these diseases, prevent them, or reduce their effects.

We can say that scientists coming together with the help of technology have made many discoveries and inventions. These findings and inventions are steps taken to improve people's lives.

With today's technology, treatment of many diseases is now possible. For some diseases, while a definitive cure does not exist, the use of therapeutic methods and medications reduces their effects.

One of these diseases is epilepsy. While there is currently no specific cure, medications are used to reduce its effects. In this article written for you, we will discuss epilepsy.

What is an Epileptic Seizure?

Epilepsy is also known as "sara" among the general population. This disease is classified as a chronic, long-term condition in affected individuals.

It generally occurs due to problems in the neurons of the brain and is followed by muscle contractions, sensory changes, and alterations in consciousness. When people with epilepsy are not experiencing seizures, they appear completely healthy. These seizures occur at regular intervals and persistently. A definitive epilepsy diagnosis may not be possible after a single seizure.

While research into the treatment of this disease continues, unfortunately, at the point modern technology and advancing science have reached, there is no definitive cure. Treatment and medications administered to patients are intended to prevent and control the damage caused by this disease.

What are the Causes of Epilepsy?

Currently, epilepsy and the seizures that accompany it do not have a specific identified cause.

• Trauma experienced at birth,
• High fever-associated illnesses,
• Trauma from head injury resulting from accidents,
• Abnormal conditions in the vascular system,
• Severe fluctuations in blood sugar disorders,
• Benign or malignant tumors within the skull,
• Or inflammation occurring within the brain can cause this disease.

Epilepsy can occur in any age group. Some factors that trigger and cause this disease to manifest can be listed as follows:

• Although it can occur at any age, this disease is generally more common during early childhood or in individuals over 55 years of age. For this reason, age can be indicated as one of the causes.
• All diseases that cause infections in the brain.
• Febrile seizures unrelated to epilepsy experienced during childhood with high fever.
• Having dementia.
• The presence of this disease in family and relatives.
• Head trauma experienced at any age.
• Disorders occurring in blood vessels, namely the vascular system, can be listed among the causes of this disease's manifestation.

What are the Symptoms of Epilepsy?

Symptoms occurring in epilepsy last on average between 2-5 seconds and 15 minutes. Some symptoms may appear before the seizure, while others may appear with the seizure itself. We can list the symptoms as follows:

• Intense fear and anxiety that develops suddenly in individuals,
• Nausea occurring in the person,
• Dizziness experienced by the person,
• Abnormal changes related to the person's vision,
• Difficulty and loss of control when moving feet and hands,
• Headaches experienced,
• Loss of consciousness accompanied by confusion,
• Uncontrolled muscle contractions,
• The person falling to the ground,
• Foam and similar substances coming from the person's mouth during the seizure,
• Teeth clenching during seizure,
• Tongue biting during seizure,
• Unusual sounds produced during seizure, are the symptoms that occur.

What are the Types of Epileptic Seizures?

People with epilepsy experience certain types of seizures with this disease. We can categorize and list these seizures in 6 ways.

• A brief loss of consciousness experienced by people with epilepsy, accompanied by short-term staring episodes, is called an Absence Seizure.
• If the person's consciousness is open or closed during the seizure and this seizure affects part of the body, it is called a Focal Seizure.
• During another type of seizure called Generalized Seizure, the person's entire body convulses, incontinence occurs, and foam comes from the mouth.
• Severe convulsions that occur only in the affected area affected by epilepsy are called Tonic Seizures.
• An epileptic seizure occurring in the body and affecting only a specific area, appearing as tingling and numbness, is called a Somatosensory Seizure.
• A seizure in which the person experiences hallucinations and suddenly experiences emotions such as anger, fear, or joy is called a Psychic Seizure.

How is Epilepsy Diagnosed?

For a doctor to clearly diagnose epilepsy, the seizure experienced by the person must be described in great detail. The person describing this is the patient themselves.

Following consultations between the doctor and patient, various tests and examinations are performed. These include:

• Electroencephalography, or EEG testing,
• MRI imaging,
• Computed Tomography imaging,
• PET scans and similar examinations are used to make the diagnosis.

How is Epilepsy Treated?

Currently, there is no method or medication that completely cures epilepsy. All drug treatments and surgical operations are performed with the aim of minimizing the effects of this disease. For this purpose, attempts are made to control the patient's seizures.

Epilepsy treatment is carried out using medications prescribed by the doctor. These medications greatly reduce the frequency of seizures, but do not eliminate them completely. During this process, the patient must maintain contact with the doctor and use medications regularly.

During this treatment period, the person's body may not respond to treatment. Epilepsy that begins in childhood may improve depending on the age factor or may persist throughout the patient's life. If the person's disease does not respond to drug therapy, after conducting certain tests and examinations, doctors may apply surgical treatment to reduce the effects caused by the disease through surgical intervention.

How Can Someone with an Epileptic Seizure Be Helped?

If you have people around you or nearby experiencing epileptic seizures, following the steps below is of great importance. However, you must first call 112 to request help or ask someone else to do this on your behalf.

• The person providing assistance should first remain calm and composed by maintaining composure. If you panic, it will be impossible to help the patient.
• Turning the patient on their side and positioning them so they cannot be harmed is important for the patient's health.
• If the epileptic patient is trembling, do not try to stop the trembling. If their jaw is clenched, do not try to open their jaw or pull out their tongue. Doing this can harm both you and the patient.
• Loosen items on the patient such as belts, headscarves, shawls, scarves, and ties.
• Do not try to give the epileptic patient water; doing so could cause the patient to experience choking danger.
• There is no need to perform life-saving measures such as chest compressions on the person experiencing an epileptic seizure.

If you are an epilepsy patient and face the risk of seizures at any time, you may need to pay attention to the following points:

• Make sure to take your medications on time.
• Keep cards in your pockets or in a bag stating that you have epilepsy.
• Try to avoid going out alone as much as possible.
• Avoid activities such as climbing and hanging.
• Do not lock the door when using the bathroom or toilet.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to bright flashing lights that affect brain function. Especially do not spend long periods in front of the television.
• Pay attention to water consumption.
• Avoid excessive fatigue and lack of sleep.
• Take care not to suffer head injuries.

What Professions Cannot Epilepsy Patients Pursue?

Some diseases play an important role in professional selection. Epilepsy, one of these diseases, also affects the professional choices of individuals. After all, epileptic attacks that occur at work can lead to fatal accidents. Professional groups that epilepsy patients should not choose can be listed as follows:

• Pilot, diver, doctor, mountain climber, professions requiring driving, professions requiring weapons use, professions requiring the operation of cutting and drilling machinery—it would be more appropriate for people with epilepsy not to pursue such occupations.
• Additionally, it is of great importance to inform your employer that you have epilepsy when starting a job and in your workplace.

Epilepsy Treatment Costs in Turkey

Turkey has made itself known throughout the world through its high success rates in the treatment of many diseases. For this reason, especially foreign nationals living abroad prefer Turkey for treatment. These reasons for preference can be listed as follows:

• High success rates in disease treatment,
• Hospitals having high technological equipment, being clean, spacious, and comfortable,
• Good quality hospital meals,
• Doctors being expert, talented, experienced, and empathetic in their field,
• Patient care assistants, nurses, hospital staff, and all personnel who will accompany you during this process being friendly and helpful,
• The convenience of Turkey's transportation network,
• Holiday opportunities offered by Turkey,
• Affordable treatment costs in Turkey are among the reasons for preference.

Regarding pricing, it would not be appropriate to give an exact figure without seeing the patient. Each disease experience is unique to the individual. Factors such as the extent of the patient's disease, the tests and examinations to be performed, the medications to be used, and the treatment methods employed all affect the costs. For this reason, you can contact us to obtain information about pricing and ask all the questions you have in mind.