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| Vol. 23, No. 3 |
| February 15, 2001 |
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Early Epilepsy Diagnosis Crucial in Seizure Control "I didn't develop epilepsy until I was 21," said the athletic young man. "I was working at the time, out on my own, just enjoying life and then, all of a sudden, the seizures began." Doctors weren't able to tell Scott Jenkins what brought on his epilepsy, but testing showed the seizures that robbed him of much of his life, including his job and his driver's license, were originating in the left part of his brain. "It slowly got worse and worse," Jenkins said, "until it progressed to the point where my body was functioning and I'd get up and walk around, but I'd lose total consciousness of what was happening." Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by seizures that occur when brain cells release high amounts of electrical energy. This process then triggers a sudden loss of control over movement and thought. Seizures can range from simple loss of awareness for a short time to unconsciousness and convulsions. Nearly 380,000 Texans have epilepsy, and an estimated 14,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed in Texas each year. Epilepsy affects more than 2 million Americans, young and old, and for 70 percent, there is no known cause. Of the remaining 30 percent, head injuries, strokes, brain tumors, lead poisoning, infections such as meningitis, and injury during childbirth are the most frequent causes. For people like Jenkins who cannot control their seizures with medication, testing at an epilepsy monitoring unit can help pinpoint where in the brain seizures begin. Electrodes on the patient's head send information about brain waves to a computer. A graph called an electroencephalogram, or EEG, tracks a patient's brain waves during a seizure. As activity gets higher in amplitude and spreads across the temporal lobes, the patient will often lose consciousness. Jenkins underwent a successful surgery that removed the tiny part of the temporal lobe where the seizures were originating. "After a year of being without seizures," Jenkins said, "the doctor was able to say, `Scott, you're not going to have any more seizures - your epilepsy is taken care of.' I was able to get my driver's license back, and at that point, I went on a tour. I drove around the country. I wanted to experience everything." Early diagnosis is crucial to controlling seizures. Children and adults with undiagnosed seizures risk developing a severe condition that is more difficult and costly to treat. Prompt detection and early treatment improve seizure control and the patient's quality of life, and reduce the lifetime cost of care. Undiagnosed and untreated seizures can lead to learning disabilities, behavior problems, safety risks and social problems. Epilepsy can be difficult to detect. Common signs include:
The Texas Department of Health provides funding for diagnostic and medical services at 17 clinics throughout the state for residents with low incomes who have epilepsy or seizure-like symptoms and little or no health insurance. The Epilepsy Program currently serves more than 4,000 patients. - Courtesy of The Texas Department of Health
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