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Epilepsy Legal Implications

Over the last few decades the attitude towards epilepsy has undergone a sea change. There has been progress in diagnosing and treating epilepsy effectively. Despite these advances, epilepsy continues to evoke fear, discrimination and negative stereotypes.

21 Nov 2009

Epilepsy Pathophysiology

A seizure is the clinical manifestation of epilepsy. This occurs basically due to excessive firing of the neurons and fast spread of these impulses over the brain.

21 Nov 2009

Epilepsy Syndromes

There are several different types of epilepsy and each type has a different unique combination of symptoms, age of onset, type and frequency of convulsions or seizures, EEG appearance, treatment and possible response to therapy. Several of these are syndromes that encompass a combination of features.

21 Nov 2009

Epilepsy Epidemiology

Epilepsy is a common disorder which affects 50 million people worldwide. As the disorder is not curable there is a very high prevalence or existing population with this disorder. Every year several hundreds of thousands join this pool of patients as new cases.

21 Nov 2009

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that has been known to mankind since ancient times. It affects the brain to cause repeated convulsions or seizures - also called fits in common parlance. The word “epilepsy” comes from the Greek and means to be taken, seized or attacked.

21 Nov 2009

Bell's Palsy Complications

Both major and minor long-term complications can ensue from Bell’s palsy in 30% of the patients, and 5% of them are left with a high degree of sequelae. In case of incomplete or aberrant regeneration of damaged nerve fibers, a phenomenon known as synkinesis can occur.

21 Nov 2009

Bell's Palsy Recovery

Most patients with Bell's palsy recover completely within 6 weeks, regardless of eventual treatment received. In some cases full recovery ensues after 9 months or even longer, but often with residual damage and development of sequelae.

21 Nov 2009

Bell's Palsy Epidemiology

Bell's palsy is the most common cause of acute unilateral facial paralysis, accounting for approximately 60-75% of such cases. The right side is generally affected more often, i.e. 63% of the time.

21 Nov 2009

Bell's Palsy Pathology

Seventh cranial nerve (facial nerve) passes through a portion of temporal bone known as the facial canal. Inflammation of at the part of the nerve termed geniculate ganglion (a group of fibers and sensory neurons) leads to compression within this bony canal.

21 Nov 2009

Bell's Palsy Diagnosis

Bell’s palsy is a clinical diagnosis that can be established based on the patient's history and physical exam findings. It essentially represents a diagnosis of exclusion when all other possibilities are eliminated.

21 Nov 2009

Bell's Palsy Symptoms

Clinically, Bell's palsy is primarily characterized by the dysfunction of peripheral seventh cranial nerve (i.e. facial nerve), leading to a complete or partial facial paralysis. The classic sign of the disease is the involvement of only one side of the face with a sudden onset.

21 Nov 2009

What is Bell's Palsy?

Bell's palsy is a common neurologic disorder characterized by peripheral paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve (also known as the facial nerve), resulting in muscle weakness on one side of the face.

21 Nov 2009

Autism History

The term autism first was used by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1908. He used it to describe a schizophrenic patient who had withdrawn into his own world. The Greek word ''autós'' meant self and the word “autism” was used by Bleuler to mean morbid self-admiration and withdrawal within self.

21 Nov 2009

Autism Prognosis

Autism is a complex disorder with a variety of manifestations and is thus termed Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASD. There is no known cure for this condition. Children with autism may often grow up with lack of social support systems, employment and meaningful relationships and family.

21 Nov 2009

Autism Management

Autism has no cure at present. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex disorder with various manifestations. The aim of treatment is to lessen associated difficulties and deficits and to improve quality of life and functional independence. No single treatment is best and management needs to be tailored to the child's needs.

21 Nov 2009

Autism Mechanism

Autism is a spectrum of disorders with no specific only cause. This is the reason why its mechanism of pathophysiology is difficult to understand.

21 Nov 2009

Autism Screening

Diagnosis of autism is difficult since it is a complex disorder and no two individuals with the disorder have similar manifestations. There are no medical tests like a blood test that can help diagnose the disorder. In addition, autism may be manifested as a wide range of disorders and is thus termed Autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

21 Nov 2009

Autism Causes

Autism is a spectrum or range of disorders and no exact cause is known. There are several interacting causes that may lead to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In most cases there is a combination of genetic risk factors that can interact with environmental risk factors. Because of the complexity of the disorder and because of the overlapping of symptoms making each autistic individual unique, the exact cause is difficult to determine.

21 Nov 2009

Autism Classification

Autism has a wide range of severity and symptoms that is often used to classify the Autism Spectrum disorders. Each of the syndromes under ASD is different from the other. For example, people with Asperger syndrome have no substantial delay in language development.

21 Nov 2009

What is Autism?

Autism is not a single disease entity. It is part of a range of developmental disorders known as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). They begin in childhood and last through adulthood.

21 Nov 2009