A - Z  EPILEPSY

Some terms explained

Half-life: The measurement of time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to decrease by 50%

Hemispherectomy: Surgical removal of one side of the brain.

Hippocampus: Found in the temporal lobe the hippocampus is an elevation of the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the brain. 

Hirsuitism:Hairiness.  A possible side effect of Phenytoin. 

Hyperventilate:To over-breathe.  Sometimes useful for diagnostic purposes under controlled conditions. 

Hypoglycaemia:Low blood sugar that may cause seizures, especially in the new born. 

Hypsarrythmia:A term used to describe the EEG frequently seen in children who have infantile spasms or myoclonic seizures.  The EEG pattern is chaotic, of very high voltage and with many spikes and slow waves.

 Ictal: A Latin term for 'event'.  A seizure, of whatever type, is referred to as an ictus. 

Ideopathic: Of unknown cause.  Seizures are known as 'ideopathic seizures' if no cause can be found.  Often has a genetic basis. 

Ideosyncratic reaction: An unexpected reaction to medication that may resolve when the body adjusts to the medication.

Illusion:An alteration of perception that occurs in some types of partial seizure.  

Infantile spasm: A form of epilepsy in the first two years of life with multiple causes.  The seizures consist of repeated episodes of flexion of the head on the chest, the knees drawn up and the arms extending.

Inter-ictal: The period between seizures.

more terms coming soon..

March 2002