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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : September 13, 2014 4:36 PM IST
Epilepsy is associated with fit or convulsion, timely treatment and intervention can help deal with the condition effectively. Now there is a new method to detect epilepsy early -- using an electroencephalography (EEG) analytical method. A team of doctors and scientists in Taiwan has successfully developed a tool to detect certain EEG features often present in children with epilepsy. The breakthrough in detecting early onset of refractory epilepsy in children may lead to effective treatment using non-pharmacological therapies. Epilepsy is the most common chronic disease in paediatric neurology, with about 0.5-1 percent of children developing epilepsy during their lifetime.
A further 30-40 percent of epileptic children develop refractory epilepsy, a particular type of epilepsy that cannot be managed by anti-epileptic drugs (AED). The team developed an efficient, automated and quantitative approach towards the early prediction of refractory epilepsy based on EEG classification analysis. In the study, a set of EEG segments was acquired from the EEG recordings of patients belonging to two classes of epilepsy: well controlled and refractory.
To search for significantly discriminative EEG features and to reduce computational costs, a statistical approach involving global parametric features was adopted across EEG channels as well as over time. 'The early identification of patients whose seizures are refractory to AED would allow them to receive alternative therapies at an appropriate time,' researchers concluded. The paper appeared in the International Journal of Neural Systems(IJNS). (Read: Valproic acid An epilepsy drug that could cure fatty liver disease)
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy, commonly known as fit or convulsion, is a chronic brain condition wherein the normal pattern of transmission of signals to and from the brain is disturbed. This causes seizures which affect consciousness, body movements and sensations for a short period of time until the electric impulses settle. It begins during childhood and 1/3 of epilepsy cases occur due to brain damage. Due to various myths, epilepsy still remains a condition very often misunderstood.
Disturbance in one part of the brain causes partial seizures. Generalized seizures are caused due to disturbance in nerve cells from different parts of the brain. One of the characteristics of people with epilepsy is the recurrence of seizures. Altered sensations, repetitive movements, auras or convulsions are some of the other symptoms. Lack of sleep stress, smoking, flashing lights, alcohol, hormonal changes during menstruation, etc. can precipitate attacks.
Early diagnosis and timely management can cure epilepsy comprehensively. Diagnosis is based on a detailed medical history of the patient. Electroencephalogram (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET), CT scan and MRI scan are some of the other tests that may be used. Read more about Medicines for epilepsy use, side-effects, overdose and interactions
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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