In the world there are diseases that are extremely rare. Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy refers to one of these pathologies. As a rule, it is observed in people aged 15 to 20 years. But the disease may occur earlier. This epilepsy has an ICD-10 code of G40.5. It is treatable provided it is started on time. If a person knows at least general information about diseases, it is easier for him to understand that something bad is happening to him. In case of any suspicion of a rare ailment, patients are advised to perform brain MRI in Moscow or another large city. Let us consider in more detail the features of this disease.
general information
Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy is named after the name of one of the domestic neuropathologists and doctor of medical sciences. It was Alexei Yakovlevich Kozhevnikov who first mentioned this pathology in his works and seriously began to study it. In addition, he singled out this pathology as a separate form of the disease. If we talk about the characteristics of the ailment, then the most interesting is that its symptoms can be very diverse. However, there is one clear sign of Kozhevnikov's epilepsy - clonic-tonic muscle cramps.
They can be observed in various parts of the body. Additionally, with pathology, patients experience quite frequent epileptic seizures. It is worth considering in more detail about whether this disease is associated with tick-borne encephalitis.
Causes
More often, Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy develops in patients precisely against the background of the fact that they suffered tick-borne encephalitis. The thing is that serious changes take place in the motor region of the human brain, against the background of which foci are formed that are responsible for increased epileptiform activity. However, in medical practice there were situations when this epilepsy was the result of a person suffering from serious lesions in the area of nerve fibers. Parasites or infectious diseases can provoke this. This means that epilepsy can also develop if a person has suffered tuberculosis, polio, cerebral cysticercosis or neurosyphilis.
In the human body, conditions can be created that provoke the development of Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy. For example, patients who have been diagnosed with focal cortical dysplasia are suffering from a similar pathology. Metabolic disorders can also lead to serious complications. For example, if a person suffers from a serious stage of diabetes or his thyroid gland does not fulfill all its functions.
Additional factors
According to experts, epilepsy can be caused by disorders that occur in the structure of the brain. For example, if a person has recently suffered a head injury. In addition, brain tumors can lead to epileptic seizures of this type. Many are interested in whether this pathology can develop against the background of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Doctors respond negatively, since such violations have not been recorded.
Symptoms of Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy
If we talk about the main manifestations of pathology, then, as a rule, hyperkinesis appears first. This means that the patient unconsciously begins to twitch some muscle groups. For example, at the same time, he may experience convulsions of the hands and nerve contractions on the face. Twitching can occur in other areas of the human body.
If we are talking about a severe form of pathology, then in this case a person may develop facial paralysis. It is also worth noting that muscle cramps will appear not only during wakefulness, but also when the patient is sleeping. Patients often pay attention to a constant feeling of anxiety, increased irritability and the appearance of completely unreasonable fear.
Amid seizures, severe stress develops, which only exacerbates the situation. It is worth starting to worry if a person has had bouts of serious depression or he suddenly became extremely aggressive.
Heavy form
If the pathology proceeds with complications, then generalized seizures may develop. In this case, cramps will be observed already in all muscle groups. The patient may fall, throw his head back. Foam flows out of the mouth.
If the patient developed serious coordination disorders, he began to notice a deterioration in his memory and a decrease in his intellectual abilities, it is worth visiting a doctor and performing an MRI of the brain. In Moscow, this service is performed by many private and public clinics. So, you can visit:
- Clinic of Dr. Bandurina on Parkova, 5.
- European Diagnostic Center, located on the street. Nagatinskaya, building 1, building 25.
- MRI Center on Kurkinskoye Shosse, 30.
- MRI Center, which is located on the street. Musa Jalil, house 4, building 6.
Prices for the procedure from 1700 to 4500 rubles.
Parents of children who have Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy notice that they suddenly begin to study worse. The patient may develop depression, phobia, and sometimes muscle atrophy appears. There have been cases when babies complained of severe abdominal pain. In the most difficult situations, patients may be diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Diagnostics
It is better to refuse to visit a regular clinic. This is a rare disease, so not every doctor can help. Therefore, it is advisable to undergo a diagnosis in the clinic of nervous diseases named after Kozhevnikova. It is located at: Rossolimo street, house 11, building 1. Here there is not only all the necessary equipment, but also the best doctors in the country who specialize in pathologies of this particular type.
If there is no opportunity to go to Moscow, then you need to find out where the epileptologist takes in the city of residence. Unfortunately, not every clinic has such a specialist.
If we are talking about children, then it will be very difficult to determine the presence of this pathology. The fact is that often the symptoms of this disease are associated only with the fact that the child gradually begins to grow up and build his behavior somewhat differently than in childhood. In this case, periodic depression, a manifestation of aggression, a decrease in learning ability and much more are observed. If we are talking about convulsive syndrome, then you should definitely consult a doctor.
To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an EEG study. Using an electroencephalogram, you can clarify the shape and frequency of seizures, as well as find out in which area of the body the focus of the disease is located.
Additionally, other diagnostic measures are carried out. For example, photostimulation or hyperventilation may be performed. It is important to record at the time of sleep and rest of the patient.
Treatment
With Kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs become the most effective. As a rule, doctors prefer to prescribe them even if it is only a suspicion of such a pathology. It is very important to choose an effective drug in a timely manner and determine its exact dosage. The dosage regimen and volume of the drug is calculated solely by the doctor. It takes into account the individual characteristics of each patient.
If it was diagnosed that the pathology develops against the background of meningoencephalitis, then in this case, radiotherapy and drugs included in the group of antibiotics are more effective.
Operation
In difficult situations, surgery may be prescribed. As a rule, doctors resort to such measures only if, due to serious seizures, the patient is unable to live in peace, cannot even serve himself. With a severe form of the disease, doctors have to give up conservative treatment and consult a surgeon.
If we talk about the types of surgical intervention, then, as a rule, Horsley's operation or thalamotomy is performed. In the first case, specialists remove the epileptic focus directly from the cerebral cortex. This method has a serious drawback. If you remove part of the hemisphere cortex, then the patient will have new problems.
If a thalamotomy is performed, then in this case a part of the thalamus, more precisely, its nucleus, will be removed. Thanks to this, it is possible to interrupt the flow of pulses that are sent to the motor area. After such an intervention, epilepsy attacks stop or occur extremely rarely.
Complications
The most important problem awaits those patients who have been diagnosed with status epilepticus. In this case, one attack can last up to half an hour. Seizures replace each other almost throughout the day. The patient may not recover at all. As a rule, this happens with untimely treatment or when the patient decided for some reason to refuse to take the prescribed medications. It must be understood that status epilepticus may end with respiratory arrest. Often there are situations when cerebral edema occurs.
Baby therapy
If we are talking about small children, then in this case the possibility of performing a surgical operation is completely excluded. This is because in such a situation there is too much risk of serious complications during the procedure. Also, a specialist can damage healthy areas of the brain, which will lead to sad complications. Therefore, patients who are not yet 15 years old are prescribed drug therapy.