Patient's question:
Seizures of limbs, spitting foam, eyes rolling up, occurring intermittentlyDoctor's answer:
Epilepsy, commonly known as "" (sheep wind), is a sudden, brief disorder of brain function. It has a high incidence rate and can occur at any age, with adolescents being particularly affected. When epilepsy recurs, patients often scream, lose consciousness, convulse, look up with their eyes wide open, foam at the mouth, and lose control of urination. The episode lasts for seconds or minutes and then disappears. Some patients may experience brief episodes of impaired consciousness without losing consciousness, which are referred to as minor seizures.Guidance:
Epilepsy is classified into three types: primary, secondary, and cryptogenic epilepsy.
- Primary epilepsy, also known as idiopathic epilepsy, has no organic lesions and tends to have a genetic predisposition. It is a group of specific epilepsy syndromes, often closely related to age in children. Some forms are linked to genetic factors and have a good prognosis. For example, if a fetus is startled while in the womb, it may disrupt the balance of qi and blood, leading to deficiencies in liver and kidney essence, resulting in abnormal fetal development and the onset of epilepsy symptoms after birth.
- Secondary epilepsy, also known as symptomatic epilepsy, has a clear cause and organic brain lesions. Many conditions can cause this type of epilepsy, primarily categorized into two groups:
1. Intracranial disorders: Various brain diseases, such as cerebrovascular diseases, cranial trauma, encephalitis, meningitis, hydrocephalus, brain abscesses, granulomas, intracranial tumors, brain parasites, cranial trauma, demyelinating diseases, brain developmental abnormalities, brain atrophy, postoperative sequelae of cranial surgery, local brain scars, and degenerative brain diseases, can all lead to epilepsy.
2. Extracranial disorders: Conditions such as hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, asphyxiation, shock, preeclampsia, uremia, diabetes, cardiogenic convulsions, and metal or drug poisoning can also cause epilepsy. Many central nervous system or systemic diseases can trigger epilepsy. Secondary epilepsy is commonly caused by factors such as birth injuries, intracranial infections, and abnormal brain circulation, such as post-encephalitis syndrome or high fever seizures in children.
- Cryptogenic epilepsy: This type is diagnosed when no cause or etiology can be identified through current examination methods, with epilepsy recurrence being the only symptom. However, with advancements in science and technology, more cryptogenic epilepsy cases may be identified in the future.
Lifestyle Management:
Western medicine can only control epilepsy but not cure it. If medication is reduced or stopped, the condition will recur, and it may have side effects. Epilepsy is not a genetic disease but rather a result of improper treatment. Relying solely on control measures cannot lead to a complete cure. Your condition is relatively mild compared to other patients, as some severe cases may not respond well to medication even with high doses. Your condition is easier to treat, and surgery is only effective if there are specific indications. If there are no organic lesions, surgery is meaningless. Traditional Chinese medicine can provide a complete cure, but accurate syndrome differentiation is essential for effective treatment.