A seizure is an uncontrolled, abnormal electrical activity of the brain, which can alter a person's level of consciousness, behavior, memory, or emotions. Different types of seizure disorders differ in the location of abnormal electrical activity in the brain and the time they last. The frequency of seizures increases during pregnancy, but there is no evidence that this change in frequency is related to the pregnancy itself.
Symptoms may differ according to the type of seizure and may include:
Convulsions
Loss of consciousness
Muscle spasms and falling
Numbness and tingling
Visual disturbance
Hallucinations
Visit a Neurologist if you have any of these symptoms for proper diagnosis, or for getting the proper treatment if you were already diagnosed and you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy now, and keep your Gynaecologist updated during follow-up visits
The most common cause is epilepsy, but other reasons may cause seizures for the first time during pregnancy such as:
Eclampsia
Electrolyte imbalance (Hyponatremia, Hypernatremia, Hypocalcemia)
Hypoglycemia
Stroke
Malignancy
Traumatic brain injury
Infections
Sepsis
Fever
Sleep deprivation
Most of the cases are diagnosed before pregnancy. In new cases, the symptoms and medical history are used for diagnosis in addition to tests such as:
Electroencephalography (a device with electrodes is used to record the electrical activity of the brain).
Magnetic resonance imaging (a device that uses magnetic fields is used to get an image of the brain to detect the zones that initiate the seizures).
Physiological changes during pregnancy may decrease the level of the medications in the blood which may cause increased seizure frequency. The patient should consult the Neurologist about the medications and doses during pregnancy to control the seizures properly and reduce the risk of teratogenic effects on the fetus.
Anti-epileptic medications:
Levetiracetam
Lamotrigine
Oxcarbazepine
Topiramate
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