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The Brain Charity

Ekbom's Syndrome

Name	Ekbom's Syndrome
	See Restless Legs Syndrome

Encephalitis

Name	Encephalitis
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Encephalitis	Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, usually occurring as a result of viral infection.
Types	Many types including: Rasmussen's Encephalitis Hashimoto's Encephalitis Subacute-sclerosing panencephalitis
Useful national contacts	Encephalitis Society Tel. 01653 699 599 www.encephalitis.info
News and events
Online resources
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on this condition and on a wide range of disability-related issues. We have copies of the Encephalitis Society's guidebooks Encepahalitis in Adults and Encephalitis in Children, which are also available to download as PDF files from the Encephalitis Society's website. Our library includes a copy of the book Medikidz Explain Encephalitis, which is also available to request from the Encephaltis Society. Visit our library to read our copy of the children's book Gilley the Giraffe... who Changed by Nimmi Channa and Phil Lynch.

Epilepsy

Name	Epilepsy
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Epilepsy	Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures, which tend to recur spontaneously. These seizures occur when there is an electrical disturbance in the brain, and the signals it sends to the body become mixed up, rather like an electrical storm in the brain.
Types	There are many different types of seizure, usually divided into two categories - generalised or partial. Typically a seizure may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Partial seizure - affects only part of the brain. Consciousness is not lost in a simple partial seizure; consciousness is impaired in a complex partial seizure. Generalised seizures affect the whole brain, and often involve a loss of consciousness. They include the Tonic Clonic seizure where the person falls down, and their body stiffens and shakes; the Atonic seizure where the body goes floppy rather than stiff; the Absence seizure, which usually shows itself in a blank stare lasting a few seconds; the Myoclonic seizure, which is very brief and involves a muscle jerk.
Useful national contacts	Epilepsy Action Helpline: 0808 800 5050 www.epilepsy.org.uk Find local branches and groups: www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/branches • Epilepsy Action meets at The Brain Charity on the last Thursday of the month Epilepsy Society Helpline: 01494 601400 www.epilepsysociety.org.uk David Lewis Centre For Epilepsy Tel. 01565 640000 www.davidlewis.org.uk Seizure Alert Dogs https://tinyurl.com/ybdbtyxw Young Epilepsy Helpline: 01342 831 342 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.youngepilepsy.org.uk The Daisy Garland - charity offering help and support to those whose lives are touched by drug-resistant epilepsy www.thedaisygarland.org.uk Mersey Regional Epilepsy Association Helpline 0151 298 2666 www.epilepsymersey.org.uk SUDEP Action: Making every epilepsy death count http://sudep.org/ Tel. 01235 772850
Online resources	What to do when someone has a seizure (Epilepsy Action) https://tinyurl.com/y9ky4up2 First Aid for seizures - Epilepsy Action video (YouTube) Free smartphone app to help manage your epilepsy (Epilepsy Society) https://tinyurl.com/y99e8fco EpSMon - award-winning self-monitoring App designed for adults who experience seizure www.epsmon.com Free e-learning resources from Epilepsy Action http://learn.epilepsy.org.uk You may be entitled to free or discounted travel if your seizures mean you can’t have a driving licence (Epilepsy Society) https://tinyurl.com/ycl743wc Young Epilepsy on YouTube youtube.com/youngepilepsy Young Epilepsy on Facebook facebook.com/YoungEpilepsy Young Epilepsy on Twitter @youngepilepsy Young Epilepsy on flickr flickr.com/photos/youngepilepsy
News and events	March 21st is Purple Day, for children affected by epilepsy www.epilepsy.org.uk/purple Medical cannabis products available on prescription (BBC, November 2018) www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46045487 The 100,000 Genomes Project is looking for people with Epilepsy for research into their DNA and genes www.genomicsengland.co.uk/taking-part "Husband programmes smartwatch to detect wife's seizures" (January 2016) https://tinyurl.com/ycfd8f2q
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Epilepsy and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read Epilepsy and your child by Richard Appleton. Or look for this book in your local library.

Essential Tremor

Name	Essential Tremor
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Essential Tremor	Essential Tremor is a neurological disorder, in which patients have a rhythmic trembling of one or more hands, head, legs, trunk and voice. The tremor is more visible during movement than at rest.
Types
Useful national contacts	National Tremor Foundation www.tremor.org.uk Helpline: 01708 386399 Find your local support group: www.tremor.org.uk/support-groups.html • The North West Essential Tremor Group meets at The Brain Charity's Coffee Morning
News and Events	19th March 2019 is Essential Tremor Awareness Day http://tinyurl.com/y574p6e4
Online resources	Essential tremor (NHS Choices) https://tinyurl.com/y7j8w78a International Essential Tremor Foundation www.essentialtremor.org
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Essential Tremor and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read Essential Tremor: The facts by Dr Mark Plumb and Dr Peter Bain. Or have a look in your local library for this book.