Epilepsy in adults
Keywords:We examine and treat adult patients with epilepsy in all our neurology units. The diagnostics and treatment of severe epilepsy in adults and epilepsy surgery are centralized at Meilahti Hospital, in the Epilepsia Helsinki center of excellence.
Epilepsy is not one disease, but a number of different diseases, which have a common tendency to cause epileptic seizures without any specific exposing factors. An epileptic seizure is caused by a sudden, transient electrical disturbance in the cortex of the brain. The location of the disturbance determines what the symptoms of the seizure are like.
You can be diagnosed with epilepsy at any age, and every year approximately 3,000 patients start taking antiepileptic medication. Epilepsy affects about 1% of the population.
In the vast majority of patients, epilepsy is manageable with the right kind of medication. Approximately one in four people with epilepsy have a form of the disease which is difficult to treat. In addition to seizures, epilepsy can be associated with neurological, mental, psychological, and social issues regarding functional capacity. Some of the epilepsy diseases are among orphan diseases.
If epilepsy is suspected in a patient, they are referred for specialist medical care in neurology for examinations and treatment. Epilepsy is treated with drug therapy, the goal of which is to completely eliminate seizures. In adults with severe epilepsy, multidrug therapy may be required and, if necessary, surgery, stimulator therapy or dietary therapy will be considered as other treatment options.
Brain Hub (opens in new window, links to another website)
For more information on neurological diseases, visit Brain Hub in the Health Village service (Aivotalo in the Terveyskylä online service; content currently not available in English). Health Village ( Terveyskylä ) is an online service for specialist medical care.
Units
Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Raseborg Hospital
At the Neurology Outpatient Clinic at Raseborg Hospital, we treat symptomatic epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and MS patients.
Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Peijas Hospital
At the Neurology Outpatient Clinic at Peijas Hospital, we examine and treat organic disorders of the nervous system.
Neurology Outpatient Clinic; Nordenskilödinkatu
At the Neurology Outpatient Clinic on Nordenskiöldinkatu, we examine and treat organic disorders of the nervous system, such as memory disorders and…
Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Jorvi Hospital
At the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Jorvi Hospital, we treat patients living in the Espoo, Kauniainen, and Kirkkonummi area.