What is adult epilepsy? Here's what you need to know about the disease, according to a doctor

On July 6, 2019, Cameron Boyce, a Disney Channel actor, died of natural causes, a preliminary report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed. Shortly after the news announcement, the 20-year-old's parents revealed in a statement that Boyce had died of epilepsy. "The tragic death of Cameron was due to a seizure resulting from a persistent illness.This was epilepsy," said a spokesman for the family. After this news, you may be wondering what is epilepsy. Although epilepsy can occur at any age, adults with no history of epilepsy can develop idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) in adolescence, a study published in the journal L & # 39; epilepsy I said. And, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological condition. It affects more than 65 million people worldwide and, to a lesser extent, men are more likely than women to develop epilepsy.

But knowing whether or not you have epilepsy is complicated. As Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a licensed family physician and Associate Professor at the Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine, says, having a seizure does not necessarily indicate epilepsy – and Only if you have two or more seizures. this epilepsy is considered a diagnosis and these seizures can come in different forms, due to a number of factors, at any time of life.

Although it may be genetic, says Caudle, other factors can lead to epilepsy in adulthood: "Other factors that can cause epilepsy [include]: Head trauma; meningitis, which is an infection of the brain and spinal cord; brain tumors; a person who has had a stroke; Caudle states: "I think it's very important to note that there are a number of things that can [cause epilepsy]. "

The Foundation for Epilepsy has noted that it can be harder to diagnose epilepsy in adults because the most common adult seizures, called focal seizures, are often confused with other affections. The things that can accompany focal seizures – hallucinations (smells, tastes, sounds, visions), already seen, numbness or temporary weakness of a limb or face and migraines – are sometimes mistakenly attributed to others medical conditions. However, there are other forms of epileptic seizures that all present themselves differently.

"There are different types of seizures and they can have different types of what we call clinical symptoms, [who are seizing] Caudle believes that some people view epileptic seizures as convulsions and tremors, but there are actually seizures in which a patient can simply look in space and stay in the zone for a while. "

If you think you had a crisis, in a video on the foundation's website, Dr. John Hixson, an badociate professor of clinical neurology at the University of California at San Francisco, recommended writing down what that you lived by filming the event (if possible). ), or documentation of information from a person who has witnessed your seizures. Bring your notes and video with you to your doctor's appointment.

The good news is that epilepsy can be controlled with medication and Caudle tells Bustle that today's prophylactic options are generally safe with minimal side effects.

Even if you do not have epilepsy, it can still be helpful to be able to help a person who is having a seizure by familiarizing you with first aid. Unlike what you saw on TV or in the cinema, never put something in the mouth of someone who is having a seizure.

"Do not try to force a patient with convulsions to open their mouths with hard objects or with their fingers, and trying to hold a patient's tongue may hurt his teeth or jaw", [[[[Dr.]Caudle told Bustle. "Do not put anything in the mouth of the person."

She adds that you must stall the person on the floor so that she can not fall, turn her on her side, remove her glbades and, if she wears a tie, loosen it. "It will help them not to stifle with secretions, you want to erase the area where they are from any sharp or hard object they could be injured in. Often people put something soft like a jacket or a pillow just under the head then [they don’t experience] minor trauma to the head while they are grasping. "

Also, do not restrict the person, dial 911 and stay with her until she is awake and alert. You can also watch a series of videos to learn first aid in case of seizure so we can help you better in case of emergency.

Although the disease is severe, it is also extremely common and can happily be managed with medication. It is therefore all the more important to know the signs and symptoms: getting help sooner is the key to treatment.