Admin 
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Recep ALP
Neurology Specialist
The clinical condition that arises from sudden, transient, and abnormal electrical discharges in brain cells is called a seizure. However, not everyone who experiences an epileptic seizure is considered to have epilepsy. An individual may experience an epileptic seizure only once in their lifetime. If seizures recur over time with certain characteristics specific to each patient—sometimes spontaneously, sometimes triggered by precipitating factors—then a diagnosis of epilepsy is made.
Epilepsy, which affects both sexes equally, is more commonly seen in children and elderly individuals. Epilepsy observed in childhood often resolves as the child grows and generally has a benign course. However, some forms of epilepsy have distinctive features and tend to be chronic.
Epilepsy may occur without an identifiable cause, or it may result from:
- Genetic and developmental abnormalities
- Infections contracted during pregnancy
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Lack of oxygen to the baby during childbirth
- Postnatal brain infections such as meningitis
- Head trauma
- Prolonged and recurrent febrile seizures
- Heavy metal or carbon monoxide poisoning
- Brain tumors, stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage
- Excessive alcohol consumption and metabolic disorders
Failure to take antiepileptic medications as prescribed, sleep deprivation, and irregular nutrition can trigger seizures.
A multidisciplinary approach is required for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Evaluation and treatment should be carried out by expert neurologists in centers equipped for medical and surgical management and staffed with specialists such as neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, psychiatrists, and neuropsychologists.
Treatment follows two main approaches: medical therapy and surgical intervention. Medication selection should be based on the patient’s age, comorbid conditions, and seizure type. Some patients may need to use antiepileptic drugs for a long period, sometimes lifelong. The most important factor in medical treatment is the regular and planned use of medications. For treatment success, lifestyle modifications and careful attention to nutrition are essential alongside drug therapy. Epilepsy surgery is generally considered for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Today, taking additional supportive measures in the treatment of epilepsy significantly affects the course of the disease. Adjustments in nutrition, lifestyle, and sleep patterns directly influence treatment outcomes. In our clinic, personalized epilepsy management and treatment are implemented, and patients are followed accordingly.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
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