7.3.4 Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic condition marked by repeated seizures.Epilepsy occurs in both sexes at all ages，especially in childhood，adolescence and increasingly in aging populations.The word“epilepsy”is derived from Latin and Greek words for“seizure”.Seizures are viewed as electromagnetic discharges in the brain in predisposed individuals，attributable in part to putative genetic factors，underlying neurological disorders，and largely unknown neurochemical mechanisms.
Epilepsy may develop after a particular identifiable event（e.g.asphyxia，head injury，meningitis），in which case it is called symptomatic epilepsy（secondary epilepsy）；or it may develop without any identifiable cause，and then it is called idiopathic epilepsy（primary epilepsy）.Seizures are results of excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells.Seizures can vary from brief and mild episodes known as absence（petit mal）seizures to major tonic-clonic（grand mal）seizures with loss of consciousness，convulsion（intervals of violent involuntary muscle contractions），and sensory disturbances（Fig.7-8）.A seizure may be due to hypoglycemia，hypocalcemia，trauma，infections，or something else.
Fig.7-8 Seizure Phases
Examinations for epilepsy include：physical examinations（observation，measurements，neurological examination，etc.），laboratory investigations，skull X-ray，electroencephalography（EEG），CT scan，MRI，and psychological evaluation.
Patients with epilepsy are now treated with pharmacotherapy，occasionally with neurosurgical techniques，as well as with psychological and social support.Before regular treatment with antiepileptic drugs（AEDs）begins，more than one seizure should have occurred，and other causes for the convulsions（e.g.hypoglycemia）have been excluded（or treated）.The aim is to try to prevent further seizures，either completely or to reduce their frequency and severity as much as possible with the least possible side effects.
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Task 6 Select the best answer according to the text.
1.Epilepsy can occur in________.
A.women only
B.children only
C.the elders only
D.both sexes at all ages
2.________means“inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord”.
A.Radiculitis
B.Sclerosis
C.Meningitis(https://www.daowen.com)
D.Neuritis
3.The term________is often used to describe a disease with no identifiable cause.
A.symptomatic
B.idiopathic
C.secondary
D.acute
4.We can also call“tonic-clonic seizure”as________.
A.convulsion
B.grand mal seizure
C.absence seizure
D.petit mal seizure
5.The patients with epilepsy can be treated with________.
A.pharmacotherapy
B.neurosurgical techniques
C.psychotherapy
D.all of the above treatment options