Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of brain function characterized by recurrent seizures that give a sudden onset. Epilepsy may be the result of disturbed chemical balance but more often the cause is unknown.

The term idiopathic is used to describe epilepsy that is not associated with structural damage of the brain. Seizures may be generalized or partial. Generalized epilepsy may take the form of tonic-clonic or absence seizures. In tonic-clonic seizures the patient falls to the ground unconscious with the muscle in a state of spasm. The lack of any respiratory movement may result in cyanosis. The tonic phase is replaced by convulsive movements when the tongue may be bitten and urinary incontinence may occur.

Movements gradually cease and the patient may rouse on a state of confusion, complaining of headache, or may fall asleep. Absence seizures consist of brief spells of unconsciousness lasting for a few seconds. During which posture and balance are maintained. The electroencephalogram characteristically shows bisynchronous spike and wave discharges during the seizures and at other times. Attacks are sometimes provoked by overbreathing or intermittent photic stimulation.

In partial seizures, the nature of the seizure depends upon the location of the damage in the brain. Symptoms may include hallucinations of smell, taste, sight, and hearing, and paroxysmal disorders of memory. Throughout an attack the patient is in a state of clouded awareness and afterwards may have no recollection of the event. A number of these symptoms are due to scarring and atrophy affecting the temporal lobe.

The different forms of epilepsy can be controlled by the use of antiepileptic drugs (anticonvulsants). Surgical resection of focal lesions in the brain is appropriate in a strictly limited number of cases.

Exercise 7. Answer the following questions:

1. What is epilepsy characterized by?

2. What is the term idiopathic used for?

3. What types of seizures are there?

4. What may be observed in the tonic phase?

5. What does the EEG usually show?

6. How can seizures be provoked?

7. What are the symptoms in partial seizures?

8. How can epilepsy be controlled?

Exercise 8. Translate the following word combinations:

Повторювані епилептичі напади, мимовільні рухи, несвідомий стан, неусвідомленість того, що відбувається, cтруктурне пошкодження мозку, генералізована і часткова епілепсія, заснути, гарячковий спазм, зберігати рівновагу, світлова стимуляція, що переривається, помутніння свідомості, оcередкові пошкодження, скронева доля, протисудомні препарати, пароксизмальні порушення пам’яті.

Exercise 9. Put the questions to the underlined words:

1. Attacks are sometimes provoked by overbreathing.

2. The patient may rouse in a state of confusion.

3. In tonic-clonic seizures the patient falls to the ground unconscious.

4. Absence seizures often subside spontaneously in adult life.

5. A simple partial seizure consists of convulsive movements that might spread to the thumb.

6. After the seizure the patient may have no recollection of the event.

7. Seizures are controllable with medication in about 70% of cases.

8. In those whose seizures do not respond to medication, surgery, neurostimulation or dietary changes may be considered.

Exercise 10. Use the verbs in brackets in the appropriate tense form:

1. The patient stated that the onset of epilepsy (to be preceded) by the brain damage during an accident.

2. This woman (to suffer from) encephalitis before epilepsy developed.

3. If epilepsy (to be treated) properly, it may (to subside) gradually.

4. The doctor (to prescribe) him some anticonvulsive drugs.

5. This patient (to experience) seizures since his childhood.

6. The EEG (to take) during the attack (to show) bisynchronous spike and wave discharges.

7. In future about 5–10% of all people (to have) an unprovoked seizure by the age of 80.

8. People with epilepsy either have restrictions placed on their ability to drive or not (to permit) to drive at all.

Exercise 11. Translate into English:

1. Відомо, що тонічно-клонічні судоми наявні у 60% пацієнтів, які страждають від епілепсії.

2. Приступ абсанса, що звичайно виявляється в дитячому віці, зникає з настанням дорослого віку.

3. Протисудомні препарати eфективно знижують, як частоту, так й тяжкість епілептичних нападів у більшості хворих.

4. Вважають, що найбільш розповсюдженими причинами епілепсії є пуxлини мозку, судинна патологія мозку, енцефаліт і обмінні порушення.

5. Було встановлено, що епілепсія –спадкова хвороба.

6. Поставивши точний діагноз і визначивши тип епілепсії, лікар почав лікування протисудомними препаратами.

Test

1. Epilepsy is a disorder of ……….. function.

a) memory b) movement c) brain d) cardiac

2. During a seizure the patient is in the state of………….

a) shock b) collapse c) unconsciousness d) stupor

3. The electroencephalogram shows ……… during the seizures.

a) bisynchronous spike b) wave discharges c) no special changes

4. Attacks are sometimes provoked by ……………

a) frequent breathing b) sunlight c) overheat d) light stimulation

5. A number of symptoms in partial seizures are due to…………..

a) scarring b) atrophy of the temporal lobe c) mental overstrain

6. The lack of any respiratory movement may result in…………

a) loss of consciousness b) cyanosis c) urination d) death

7. The tongue may be …………………..

a) coated b) bitten c) put out d) protruded

8. Epilepsy may be controlled by…………………..

a) vasodilators b) anticonvulsants c) antihistamines

9. In partial seizures symptoms may include ……………..

a) various hallucinations b) paroxysmal disorders of memory c) nausea

10. Epilepsy ………..be treated.

a) is able to b) needn’t c) must d) is allowed to

Exercise 1. Learn the new words:

Exercise 2. Read and translate the following word combinations from the active vocabulary:

To form in front of the retina, elongation of the eyeball, glasses with biconcave lenses, irregular curvature of a lens, blurry image, certain colours of the spectrum, a sex-linked genetic trait, halos around lights, exposure to ultraviolet light, increase in the intraocular pressure, a localized inflammation of a sebaceous gland, to converge together.

Exercise 3. Complete the table:

Exercise 4. Find explanation on the right to the words on the left:

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text: