Epilepsy is the occurrence of epileptic attacks that are accompanied by a loss in consciousness, muscular convulsions, a change in muscle tone, and changes in perception.
Epilepsy can develop due to several causes ranging from an abnormal brain structure (presence of scars from infection, tumors, trauma or malformation) to metabolic disorders, excessive consumption of alcohol, or genetic predispositions. A seizure happens when the brain’s nerve cells fail to function correctly. Symptoms are stereotypic for each patient, depending on the area of the brain that the electrical discharge takes place. Generalized seizures (Grand Mal seizure, absence seizure) affect both hemispheres of the brain and are distinguished from focal seizures that only affect specific regions of the brain without the patient experiencing loss of consciousness.
Epilepsy occurs in 0.5% of the population. Seizures occur in different frequencies and at different intervals. Patients usually experience warning signs before a seizure such as nausea, feeling hot, or unusual and indescribable feelings. Sleep deprivation and alcohol withdrawal as well as hard breathing can trigger a seizure. A Grand Mal seizure is the most common form of epilepsy and presents as loss of consciousness, falling, muscle cramps, and muscle convulsions. After several minutes, a period of confusion and drowsiness follows until the patient regains normal awareness. The patient cannot remember the event. During the seizure the patient may bite their tongue, urinate, or defecate. In contrast, an absence seizure presents as an acute disruption in awareness without a deeper loss of consciousness and usually occurs in children and youth. It can manifest as discreet signs such as blinking, slight twitching, or absent-mindedness. Absence seizures usually occur several times a day and can be triggered by quick breathing. Simple focal seizures involve muscle twitching that it limited to a specific area or sensations on the skin. Acoustic and visual sensitivity can also be symptoms of epilepsy. Patients often remain conscious. Complex focal seizures involve déjà vu phenomena, feeling of insubstantiality, hallucinations or even heart-racing and difficulty in breathing. The patient’s gaze becomes rigid; they perform chew- and lick-movements and produce retching sounds.
If the patient can’t recover between two seizures, they can develop a so-called Status epilepticus. This is dangerous, because the disrupted breathing can cause an undersupply of the vital organs as well as the brain. Antiepileptic medication is used for therapy. Patients should avoid provocation factors such as excessive consumption of alcohol. After two years without any seizure, the medication may be discontinued.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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