Introduction
Reflex epilepsies are a combination of epileptic reactions which can be caused due to external and internal stimuli. Certain factors, like flashlights, sounds, or nonverbal activities, act as triggers. This form of epilepsy can also be triggered habitually. People who suffer from pure reflex epilepsy will experience seizures in response to particular stimuli and do not suffer spontaneous seizures.
What Is Meant by Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that is characterized by repeated seizures. A seizure is an abrupt change in the electrical activity of the brain, which is temporary. Usually, the brain produces continuous tiny electrical impulses in a pattern. These impulses travel through the neurons known as the network of nerve cells and throughout the whole body with the help of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
In the case of epilepsy, the pattern of the electrical activity is disturbed, causing imbalance and resulting in recurrent seizures. The sudden burst of electrical energy can affect the person's consciousness, movements, and sensations.
What Is Meant by Reflex Epilepsy?
Reflex epilepsy is a condition where a seizure occurs due to a trigger or stimuli. These stimuli can be environmental, external stimulus, or internal, which include an emotion or mental process. This form of seizure is unique; almost four to seven percent of people who suffer from seizures will display this condition.
Some Common Environmental Triggers Are:
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A sensation of touch.
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Light.
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Movements.
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Sounds like church bells.
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Music or song.
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Person's voice.
Some Complex Triggers Are:
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Reading.
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Writing.
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Working out arithmetic.
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Thinking about something specific.
What Are the Types of Reflex Epilepsy?
There are two types of reflex epilepsy; these are
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Extrinsic Reflex Epilepsy: Which includes the external stimuli that cause reflex epilepsy; these are
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Photosensitive Epilepsy: Certain people are very sensitive to certain frequencies of light or visual patterns, which can trigger seizures. Television and video games are common triggering factors, and about three percent of people are affected by this seizure.
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Eye Closure Sensitivity: In this form, the person is sensitive to the closure of the eye and keeps fluttering the eyelids.
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Musicogenic Epilepsy: In this form of epilepsy, the affected person is sensitive to sounds like church bells, machinery, or songs, which can trigger seizures.
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Orofacial Reflex Myoclonia: Some people may be sensitive to the muscle jerks around the mouth, jaw, or tongue while reading or talking.
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Praxis Induction: Some people are sensitive to muscle jerks due to visual motor activities like playing chess and cards, writing, drawing, etc.
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Reading Epilepsy: People experience seizures after reading when the book's content has enhanced difficulty or has more emotional content.
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Hot Water or Bathing Seizure: In this case, the person may be sensitive to water, the temperature, quantity, and where on the body the water contacts. All these factors can trigger a seizure.
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Touch-Induced Seizure: In this type of seizure, certain touch sensations can trigger seizure-like friction against the skin, brushing, and any stimulation in certain body parts.
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Intrinsic Reflex Epilepsy: External factors do not cause intrinsic reflex seizures. It is caused due to increased brain functioning. Any mental process like decision-making, calculating, or reasoning can trigger seizures. In rare cases, non-verbal activity can cause seizures, commonly seen in adult males.
What Are Other Seizure Types That Occur in Reflex Epilepsy?
Almost 85 % of seizures that are reflex epilepsy are tonic-clonic seizures. During this seizure, muscle jerks and movements throughout the body, including the arms and legs. The person experiencing such a seizure can become unresponsive and may lose consciousness. Some types of seizures that occur during reflex epilepsy are
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Absence Seizure: This type of seizure causes a lapse in consciousness, making the person feel like daydreaming. This may also cause eye fluttering and rolling.
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Myoclonic Seizure: Myoclonic seizure can cause muscle jerks or twitches of muscles that last only for two seconds.
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Focal Seizure: Focal seizure originates from one brain region, which can affect other areas of the whole brain. This includes muscle contraction, visual alterations, and other symptoms based on the affected brain region.
What Is the Cause of Reflex Epilepsy?
Photosensitive seizure usually begins during childhood. It mainly occurs in children whose parents are very sensitive to flashlights. People affected by other epilepsy types, such as Dravet syndrome, caused due to alteration in sodium channels, can cause reflux epilepsy. Reflux epilepsy can occur due to mutations in LGI1 and MECP2 GENES. People affected by reflux epilepsy display normal development and do not show any alterations in the nervous system during neurological examination.
How Is Reflux Epilepsy Diagnosed?
If the doctors suspect reflux epilepsy with the help of the symptoms experienced by the person, then the medical and family history of the person is collected. Some imaging tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis, such as,
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EEG: Electroencephalogram is used very frequently where it displays normal background with general and focal irregular and abnormal activities.
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MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Magnetic resonance imaging is sometimes recommended to view structures inside the head.
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Functional MRI: Functional MRI is an advanced imaging technique used to view malfunctioned brain areas.
How Is Reflux Epilepsy Managed?
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An efficient way to prevent reflux epilepsy is by avoiding trigger stimuli such as flashlights that cause the seizure.
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Playing video games or watching television shows can trigger seizures due to sleep deprivation, stress, and excitement caused by playing these games. Proper sleep and control of stress are better ways to avoid these triggers. These are not the causative factor if the seizure is caused post-game or television show.
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People affected by reflux epilepsy are recommended medications as the seizure is unavoidable or if the seizure occurs due to an unknown cause.
What Is the Outlook of Reflux Seizure?
Avoiding the triggering factor and following proper anti-seizure drugs regularly can help the person prevent the occurrence of these seizures. In some cases, the reflux epilepsy subsides as the person ages. The Epilepsy Foundation says that about 75 % of the people affected by photosensitive epilepsy will experience seizures even after the age of 25 years if they are not treated.
Conclusion
Reflux seizure is a type of seizure that is caused due to external or internal stimuli. These seizures can vary in severity depending on the trigger factor. These seizures affect the whole body. This can be treated best by avoiding the triggering factor and with the help of anti-seizure medications.
