Epilepsy

Level : 2nd year

Instructor : Mariem Lioune

Epilepsy
Activity 1: What do you know about epilepsy?

True or false ?

1. Epilepsy is a psychiatric condition. false

2. Seizures which last less than ten minutes can cause brain damage. false

3. People with epilepsy may get a warning before an epileptic fit. true

4. Epilepsy is a genetic disorder. false

5. All fits result in jerky movements. false

6. Some fits are like the person being away for a few minutes. true

7. You not give a person food or drink if they are having a fit. true

8. Put something in the mouth to stop the person biting his tongue during a fit. false

Activity 2 Reading

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is caused by abnormal electrical activity of the brain. It leads to a change in brain
function which causes seizures or epileptic fits. There are several types of seizures

1. Petit mal which means small bad thing these seizures are also called absences
because the person seems to go away for a while.

2. Grand mal which means big bad thing during a grand mal seizure people move
their arms and legs around with jerky or uncontrollable movements.
Epileptic fits are not usually harmful unless they happen during activities like
swimming or driving a car. This is because some people with epilepsy do not get any

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 Epilepsy
Level : 2nd year
Instructor : Mariem Lioune

warning or a very short warning before they have a fit. It is, however, important to
maintain a healthy lifestyle.

People with epilepsy who do get a warning may experience an unusual smell or sight. This is
called an aura. Some people also identify triggers which they are able to avoid if possible. If a
fit cannot be avoided, it starts with the person falling down. Their arms and legs convulse
without any control. They usually lose consciousness or pass out. Most people recover
within five minutes without ill effect. However, medical attention should be sought for a
person whose seizure lasts more than five minutes.

Read the text above and match the terms in the text with their correct meanings

1. aura g a) sudden epileptic fit

2. trigger e b) sudden movements which a person cannot control

3. seizure a c) appear not be aware of your surroundings for a moment

4. absence c d) fits, involuntary movements

5. jerky b e) something which starts something else happening

6. sight h f) to faint

7. convulsion d g) a feeling that a person is about to have a fit.

8. lose consciousness f h) ability to see

Answer the following questions.

1. Epilepsy is caused by a change in _______________________.

(a) brain function

(b) muscle function

(c) mind function

2. An absence is when a person appears to stop ________________.

(a) hearing

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 Epilepsy
Level : 2nd year
Instructor : Mariem Lioune

(b) concentrating

(c) speaking

3. People may move around ________________ during a grand mal fit.

(a) uncontrollably

(b) a lot

(c) easily

4. Some people get a ______________ that they are about to have a fit.

(a) treatment

(b) trigger

(c) warning

5. During a fit, people may _____________ or lose consciousness.

(a) pass out

(b) pass in

(c) pass through

Activity 3 Reading an Academic Article

Read the following excerpt from an article found at onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Clinical Research Physical Exercise in Outpatients with Epilepsy - Nakken, K. O. (1999),

Clinical Research Physical Exercise in Outpatients with Epilepsy. Epilepsia, 40: 643651.
doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1999.tb05568.x

Abstract

Summary: Purpose: To compare the exercise habits in a sample of adult outpatients with
epilepsy with those of a general population of the same age and sex and furthermore to study
physical exercise as a seizure precipitant and the risk of sustaining seizure-related injuries
while exercising.

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 Epilepsy
Level : 2nd year
Instructor : Mariem Lioune

Methods: Two hundred four adult outpatients with active epilepsy responded to two
questionnaires. The first one, addressing exercise habits, was a selected part of a broad self-
assessing screening used every second year by a marketing and media research institute to
reveal changes in the average Norwegian's lifestyle. The exercise habits of the epilepsy
population were compared with those of the average population. The other questionnaire,
addressing seizures and injuries related to physical exercise, consisted of eight sections and
was developed at the National Center for Epilepsy in Norway.

Conclusions: The surveyed sample of epilepsy outpatients was more active than expected, and
their exercise pattern closely resembled that of the average Norwegian population. In the
majority of the patients, physical exercise had no adverse effects, and a considerable
proportion (36%) claimed that regular exercise contributed to better seizure control. However,
in -10% of the patients, exercise appeared to be a seizure precipitant, and this applied
particularly to those with symptomatic partial epilepsy. The risk of sustaining serious seizure-
related injuries exercising seemed modest.

Answer the following questions.

1. The research was undertaken to assess _____________________________.

(a) whether exercise triggers epileptic fits.

(b) whether exercise causes epileptic fits.

(c) whether exercise cures epileptic fits.

2. The other purpose of the study was to assess____________________.

(a) the effect of exercise on epileptics.

(b) the risk of injury to epileptics during exercise.

(c) the benefit of exercise to epileptics.

3. Two questionnaires were given to __________ people with epilepsy in Norway.

(a) 200

(b) 2000

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 Epilepsy
Level : 2nd year
Instructor : Mariem Lioune

(c) 204

4. The first questionnaire compared _________________ of people with epilepsy and those
who do not have epilepsy.

(a) exercise choices

(b) exercise frequency

(c) exercise habits

Activity 4 The First Aid for Epileptic Fits

Woman: I need to ask a few questions about my grandson, Mark. Hes got epilepsy.

Nurse: I see. How long has Mark had epilepsy?

Woman: Hes had it for four years now.

Nurse: Is he taking any medication at the moment?

Woman: He takes tablets every day to prevent the fits.

Nurse: When was the last time he had a fit?

Woman: The last time he had a fit was six months ago. His grandfather and I are looking after
him while his parents are on holidays. We dont know what to do if he has a big fit.

Nurse: I understand your concerns. I can explain what to do if he has a big fit.

Woman: What should I do if he has a fit when were out?

Nurse: First, check there is nothing around which could hurt him.

Woman: I see. Should I put something in his mouth?

Nurse: No, dont ever try to put anything in his mouth. Dont try to move him during the fit. If
you can, put something soft under his head to protect it from injury. Like a cushion or pillow.

Woman: OK. I wont move him.

Nurse: Take a note of how long the fit lasts. If the fit lasts more than five minutes you should
call an ambulance.

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 Epilepsy
Level : 2nd year
Instructor : Mariem Lioune

Woman: All right. I see.

Nurse: Your grandson should also wear an identity bracelet to say he has epilepsy.

Woman: Yes, he wears one all the time. Is there anything else I should do?

Nurse: When the fit is over, roll your grandson onto his side until he comes round.

Woman: Just roll him on his side until he comes out of the fit?

Nurse: Thats all you have to do. Its also extremely important not to give him anything to eat
or drink until he has completely recovered.

Woman: Thank you. I think I understand now. I just hope everything is OK.

Nurse: Im sure youll manage well. Ill give you the phone number of the Epilepsy Helpline.
You may find them useful. They also have a website.

Woman: Yes, thats a good idea. Thank you for explaining it to me. I feel a bit better about
having our grandson over now.