User:Ehart25/proposal

YAY let's begin...Vertiginous epilepsy Discussing vertigo (Abby).. histogram

=Signs and Symptoms=
 * - "quick spins" = quick horizontal movement of visual field lasting several seconds
 * - vertiginous aura = sensation of rotation or movement in visual and auditory planes
 * --the aura can be focused in different regions of the brain thus affecting different functions
 * -- instability of the body
 * -vertiginous aura can precede a seizure or may constitute a seizure itself
 * - sudden onset of feeling like one is turning in one direction, normally lasting several seconds
 * -- although still aware, often cannot remember specifics during episode due to disorientation, discomfort, and/or partial cognitive impairment
 * - may be accompanied by:
 * -- auditory hallucination
 * -- cognitive impairment
 * -- motor activity
 * -- ictal behavior
 * -- limbic auras
 * - NOT DIZZINESS = imbalance, impending loss of consciousness, floating sensation, confusion

=History/Epidemiology=
 * - onset between ages 4-50
 * -- typically occurs in adolescence or young adulthood
 * - no preference of sex

Sir George Frederick (1868-1941) known for his work in peadiatric rheumatoid arthiritis referred to as Still’s disease, was the first to publish a description of episodic vertigo in children within the broad category of ‘headache in children’ in 1924.

=Causes=
 * - traumatic head injury
 * - tumor/cancer
 * - genetic predisposition
 * - stroke/loss of blood flow
 * - infection

=Mechanism=
 * - "vertigo occurs when there is conflict between the signals sent to the brain by balance- and position-sensing systems of the body"
 * - abnormal stimulation of cortex processing vestibular information
 * -- localized in lateral temporal lobe
 * -- may propagate to other regions of brain (parietal, occipital) inducing symptoms associated with the secondarily affected areas along with primary symptoms
 * -- may also be localized at temporal-parietal-occipital junction

=Pathophysiology=
 * "potential for disturbance of function without the production of deficit" (?)

=Diagnosis=
 * patient's detailed description of experience is key to diagnosing vertiginous epilepsy


 * - electroencephalography (EEG) - detects abnormal electrical brain activity
 * - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - looks for masses or lesions in brain
 * - PET scan - detects abnormal blood flow and glucose metabolism in brain
 * - neuropsychological testing

=Prevention=
 * - no real way to prevent episodes outside means of management
 * - protect head from injury
 * - genetic screening - only gives individual idea if they are predisposed to condition

=Management=
 * - possible to manage without any treatment
 * - anticonvulsant medication
 * - surgical removal of epileptic region (for extreme cases)

=Research=
 * - American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF)

=References=