Epilepsy
Epileptic seizures are caused by a type of 'short circuit' in the brain. During an epileptic seizure, the person in question temporarily loses control of certain bodily functions. Epilepsy can occur in both children and adults. It can be congenital and it can also develop later in life. Epilepsy occurs relatively more often in people with a mental disability.
Epileptic seizures
Epileptic seizures differ in type, severity, duration and frequency depending on the part of the brain in which it occurs. Sometimes, the epileptic seizures are so subtle that they are barely noticed. Epileptic seizures are classified as follows:
- Partial seizures, which involve a disorder in one part of the brain
- General seizures, during which the disorder affects both sides of the brain: these always result in loss of consciousness.
Epilepsy care from an epilepsy institution
Referral for specialised epilepsy care at a Kempenhaeghe epilepsy institution is appropriate for forms of complex epilepsy:
- if a more specific diagnosis of the epilepsy is necessary by means of highly specialised EEG study, MRI study or a combination of these (also fMRI or EEG-fMRI), because the cause or the nature of the epilepsy seizures remains unclear.
- if the patient suffers from difficult-to-control epilepsy that cannot be brought under control with anti-epileptics.
- if study of the epilepsy is necessary in order to determine the chances of treating the epilepsy with lesser-known treatment methods, such as epilepsy surgery, vagus-nerve stimulation or ketogenic diets.
- if the correct combination of anti-epileptics needs to be investigated.
- if the epilepsy is combined with other problems that require specialised epilepsy care, involving, for example, epilepsy and development disorders, epilepsy and learning difficulties, epilepsy and employment, epilepsy and home care, epilepsy and mental disabilities, epilepsy and behaviour/behavioural problems, or epilepsy and risk assessment.
- if a second opinion is required regarding the epilepsy.
