The new patient with a first seizure.
Aust Fam Physician
; 32(4): 221-8, 2003 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12735261
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
First seizures are common, with one in 20 people suffering a seizure at some time in their life.OBJECTIVE:
This article aims to outline the assessment of patients with a first seizure, including making an accurate diagnosis of both seizure type and an epilepsy syndrome, if present.DISCUSSION:
Seizures are classified into generalised and partial (arising from a focal region in the brain) based on clinical and electroencephalogram findings. However, as a partial seizure may proceed to a tonic clonic phase, differentiation may be difficult. Inquiring directly about 'minor' epileptic symptoms before the episode such as absences, myoclonic jerks, visual or auditory hallucinations or feelings of déjà vu, is needed to attempt to make a epilepsy syndrome diagnosis, as this has practical implications for treatment, prognosis and genetic counselling. Generalised epilepsies should be treated initially with valproate, while partial epilepsies should be treated with carbamazepine and switched to newer agents if intolerance occurs.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Epilepsia Mioclónica Juvenil
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Aust Fam Physician
Año:
2003
Tipo del documento:
Article