2024-03-22 06:09:38
Actor Omer Datz, son of Moshe and Orna Datz, passed away last night (Thursday) from epilepsy, one of the most common neurological diseases in the world. In the case of a convulsion, the prominent symptom of the disease, these are the steps that must be taken step by step, until the MDA team arrives.
Following the death of Omer Detz: what is known about epilepsy? | Dr. Itai Gal
Yesterday, as I recall, Omer’s parents, Orna and Moshe Detz, announced the tragic death of their son: “Our eldest son Omer Detz was found dead today from a seizure of epilepsy. The shock and pain are unbearable, we thank you for considering our private grief.”
As mentioned, this is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting a percentage of the world’s population, and according to estimates, about 80 thousand Israelis. It manifests itself in repeated convulsions caused by a defect in the electrical conduction in the brain.
The causes of epilepsy may be many, the most common of which is genetic, but it may also occur as a result of infections, exposure to alcohol or drugs, tumors, head trauma, metabolic diseases, stroke or a problem with salt and sugar balance.
There are two types of seizures: partial and general. A partial seizure, especially common in children, is caused by an injury to a certain area of the brain. A convulsion of this type often involves hallucinations, sensations of unpleasant smells, dizziness or inexplicable bursts of laughter. The partial convulsion is divided into two types: a simple convulsion that includes muscle contractions of a certain area of the body along with changes in sensation and mental state; A complex convulsion that includes involuntary movements along with a change in the state of consciousness – confusion of senses up to loss of consciousness.
A general convulsion is caused by damage to most parts of the brain or all of it and it is also divided into two types: petit mal convulsion (Absence Epilepsy) which manifests itself in disconnection for a few seconds. This type of convulsion is very common in childhood, when the patient suddenly stares into the air. In the past, these children were accused of being ‘daydreamers’, when in fact they were having an epileptic seizure.
The second type of general convulsion is called grand mal (tonic clonic) and includes violent contractions of the movement muscles in the body, loss of consciousness, stopping breathing for a short period of time, biting the tongue, foaming at the mouth and loss of control of the sphincters.
After the seizure ends, the patient goes through a period called ‘post-ictal’ and is characterized by sleepiness and loss of orientation and memory, which pass after about two hours. This type of seizure is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Without it, the patient may suffer from suffocation or a lack of oxygen supply to the brain, and even die. Due to the violent nature of the convulsions, the patients tend to suffer severe bruises.
The diagnosis of the disease is carried out by an EEG test in which the patient is connected to electrodes on the scalp that record the brain waves. The treatment of convulsions includes various drugs given orally. To stop an existing convulsion, it is usually necessary to inject the patient with an anticonvulsant drug intravenously.
Epilepsy may be a disease that lasts a lifetime, but modern drug treatment allows most patients to continue a normal life and need less medication over time. In patients who do not suffer from convulsions during a period of at least four years, the doctor may stop the drug treatment altogether.
What should you do if a person cramps next to you?
1. Call MDA on 101, leave the phone on speaker and listen to the operator’s questions and instructions.
2. Place a pillow or soft material under the patient’s head and keep objects away from his surroundings.
3. Tilt his head back if possible but not forcefully
4. Do not try to open the patient’s mouth or restrain the contractions: during the convulsion, the jaws may lock with a force of hundreds of kilograms and it may cut your fingers. Even the violent blows of the sphincter can hurt you.
5. If the patient has stopped convulsing and is not breathing – start CPR.
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