Patient's question:
Recently, my friend told me that many people have developed epilepsy. He advised me to be a bit more cautious. At first, I didn't take it seriously, but later when I saw that many people around me were affected, I started to feel sad. Here, I am asking if there are any signs to look out for to determine if someone has epilepsy.Doctor's answer:
It is recommended to have a detailed brain examination at the hospital. For example, an electroencephalogram (EEG) showing epileptic waves (also known as spike-and-wave discharges) is an important basis for diagnosing epilepsy. The diagnostic criteria for epilepsy include: 1) recurrent episodes of epilepsy symptoms; 2) the reappearance of epileptic waves on an EEG; and 3) effective treatment with antiepileptic drugs. However, an EEG is not the sole basis for diagnosis, as the EEG of some epilepsy patients may be normal. Even with a 24-hour long-term EEG, the positive detection rate is only 80%. For the patient, if the epilepsy condition is severe, timely symptomatic treatment and appropriate medication are necessary. Otherwise, it may lead to recurrent epilepsy episodes.