PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SEIZURE:

NERVOUS SYSTEM

ETIOLOGY PREDISPOSING
FACTORS
- an electrical disturbance - idiopathic (genetic,
in the nerve cells in one developmental defects)
section of the brain, causing - acquired
(hypoxemia,
them to emit abnormal, vascular insufficiency,
recurring, uncontrolled, fever (childhood), head
injury,
electrical discharges hypertension, CNS
infections,
metabolic and toxic
conditions,
brain tumor, drug and
alcohol
withdrawal, and allergies)

CELLULAR/ METABOLIC CHANGES GROSS ANATOMICAL PHYSICAL CHANGES

PHYSIOLOGIC MANIFESTATION
- when the integrity of the neuronal cell - involuntary movements may spread - epigastric
sensations, pallor,
membrane is altered, the cell begins firing centrally and involve the entire limb, including sweating,
flushing, goose flesh
with increased frequency and amplitude. one side of the face and lower extremities. (piloerection),
pupillary dilation,
When the intensity discharges reaches the the client also may exhibit changes in posture tachycardia,
and tachypnea.
threshold, the neuronal firing spreads to or spoken utterances
adjacent neurons, ultimately resulting to
seizure. Inhibitory neurons in epilepsy have
slow neuronal firing in the cortex, anterior
thalamus, and basal ganglia. Once the
inhibitory processes develop or the
epileptogenic neurons are exhausted, the
seizure stops then later events depress the
CNS activity and impair consciousness

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS LABORATORY FINDINGS

TONIC PHASE:
- fall, loss of consciousness, yell or “tonic cry”, - MRI may detect lesions in the brain,
focal abnormalities,
extension of arms, legs, and/or face, fingers and cerebral degenerative changes
and jaw clenched. AUTONOMIC SYMPTOMS - EEG may allow diagnosis of the type and
location of the
include increase in blood pressure, heart rate occurring seizure.
and bladder pressure, flushing, sweating, - SPECT may identify the epileptogenic zone
so that the
increased salivation and bronchial secretion, area in the brain giving rise to seizures can
be removed
and apnea surgically.
CLONIC PHASE:
- muscles relax completely, then muscle tone
returns which causes rhythmic jerking of head
and body.
POST-ICTAL PHASE:
- biting of the tongue, cheek or lip, and
urinary incontinence are common
 SEIZURE

COMPLICATIONS
- Hypoxic brain damage and mental retardation may follow repeated seizures
- Depression and anxiety may develop. Long-term social isolation may also occur