Symptoms of epilepsy (epilepsy) that you need to be aware of

Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder that causes symptoms of body convulsions. In fact, the symptoms vary widely depending on which type of epilepsy the patient has. So, to be able to recognize this disease, here are the characteristics of epilepsy that you need to know.

Symptoms of epilepsy in infants, children and adults

Epilepsy is a disease that requires immediate treatment when a person experiences symptoms. The reason is, symptoms that last for a long time or recur without treatment can cause brain damage and can lead to death.

That is why you really need to know the various signs of epilepsy that occur in babies, children, and adults. For more details, let's discuss the signs and symptoms of epilepsy one by one below.

1. Seizures

Electrical activity is not only in the heart, but also in the brain. When the electrical activity in the brain becomes abnormal due to epilepsy it can cause the body to go into convulsions. This abnormality is characterized by nerve cells in the brain working faster and with less control than usual.

Symptoms of seizures due to epilepsy can appear in infants, children, and adults. Usually, it is marked by the sufferer stomping his body suddenly and repeatedly.

This is followed by a tightly closed jaw or tongue biting. In some cases, this symptom is also followed by excessive contraction of the bladder which causes the sufferer to pee on the pants (wetting the bed).

This stomp can be all over, part of the body, or only on certain body parts, for example, stomping the legs and arms. In fact, there are also those who only stomp a few fingers, such as shaking (tremor).

How large the area of the body is affected by this seizure indicates how much the brain area is disturbed by its electrical activity.

It needs to be reminded again if epileptic seizures are different from ordinary seizures. The reason is, people without epilepsy can experience seizures. The difference is that people with epilepsy will experience recurrent seizures suddenly, while people without epilepsy will experience it only once.

2. Loss of consciousness

Seizures that affect the whole body make the sufferer lose consciousness. This means that the person loses control of his own body.

When these signs and symptoms of epilepsy occur, they generally fall. Worse, they can have accidents, for example when climbing or descending hands and driving a vehicle. As a result, they will experience injuries to the head or other body parts.

Others may pass out after 1 to 2 minutes of experiencing a full body seizure.

3. Staring blankly and unresponsive

Seizures in epileptic patients are not only indicated by stomping alone. Some of them experience epileptic seizure symptoms such as staring blankly at one point and not responding (daydreaming).

This sign of epilepsy causes the sufferer to lose consciousness briefly, that is, for a few seconds. If the patient is doing the activity, then they will stop and be still for a few seconds. This condition is included in the symptoms of mild epilepsy.

The duration is very short, but can occur several times a day. Sometimes the sufferer does not realize that they are experiencing a relapse of symptoms. Most likely the sufferer just felt something was missing.

4. Shows unusual behavior

In addition to stomping, people who are experiencing relapsing symptoms of epilepsy are very likely to perform abnormal actions. For example, leaning forward or backward for a few moments.

Reporting from the National Health Service page, the characteristics that can be seen physically in children and adults with epilepsy that involve abnormal behavior include:

Chewing your mouth when you are not eating.
Rubbing hands even though the hands are not dirty or the air is not cold.
Makes unclear noises from the mouth.
Performing repetitive movements, such as hitting the mouth, getting up and standing, or other purposeless behavior.

2. Muscles are stiff or weak

When a seizure occurs, another symptom of epilepsy is that the body's muscles become stiff. This causes the wrists or feet and fingers to become curved or bent.

In some people, muscle tone will disappear suddenly. This condition causes the body to become weak and makes the sufferer fall down. These symptoms can last up to 20 seconds.

5. Experiencing problems with the five senses

Not all people with epilepsy will experience body seizures. Some of them have problems with their senses. This may occur when the part of the brain that controls the five senses experiences abnormal electrical activity.

These symptoms can include visual disturbances, such as blurred or double vision. It can also cause hearing loss, inability to taste food, or touch (numbness). This symptom that attacks your sensory abilities is often referred to as the "aura".

6. Other signs and symptoms of epilepsy

Apart from the signs and symptoms above, some patients may also experience the following symptoms:

There is a tingling sensation in the stomach known as "gastric uprising".
Experiencing the sensation of déjà vu, feeling fear or pleasure for no apparent cause and other complex psychological phenomena.
In children, the characteristics of epilepsy cause symptoms of dizziness or sleep terrors, namely screaming, sweating, and stamping their feet or body at night. Meanwhile, in infants, the characteristics of epilepsy that are shown are the eyes blinking rapidly.

When to see a doctor when you have epilepsy symptoms?

If you experience the signs and symptoms listed above, see a doctor immediately or call for emergency medical care. Especially when showing one of the following conditions: