DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please write about epilepsy? I have had it since 1951. – E.B.

ANSWER: Seizures are the identification tag of epilepsy. There are many different kinds of seizures and, therefore, different kinds of epilepsy, but every seizure comes from a sudden burst of electrical discharge of brain cells – an electrical brain storm. Sometimes the electrical discharge involves the entire brain; at other times only a part of the brain.

Two common kinds of seizures are grand mal and petit mal, now called an absence seizure.

At the onset of a grand mal seizure, the person often makes a muffled cry, then stiffens and falls to the ground. The arms and legs begin to thrash about, contracting and relaxing. The scene frightens onlookers, who feel compelled to do something but often do the wrong thing. All that needs to be done is to loosen the person’s collar or tie, protect the head and turn the person onto one side. Many spectators try to force the seizing patient’s mouth open to prevent swallowing the tongue. That isn’t helpful and can be harmful. Having a seizure never makes a person swallow the tongue. The entire episode is over in a few minutes, and the person is quite groggy for some time after it.

A petit mal seizure is a common childhood form of epilepsy. Here the child lapses into a state of unawareness that lasts only briefly, 10 to 15 seconds. The child pauses in what he or she is doing, doesn’t fall to the floor and has a blank stare. The eyelids may blink frequently or the jaw might make chewing movements, but most people don’t realize anything has gone wrong. These seizures can recur many times during the day.

Since the time you were diagnosed with epilepsy, many new control drugs have been approved. Most epilepsy patients today live a normal and highly productive life. In a few instances, surgery is needed for the people who don’t achieve control with medicines.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please tell me something about frequent yeast infections. I had one and it left, but now it’s back. My doctor hasn’t given me anything to get rid of it. – A.P.

ANSWER: Are you talking about a vaginal yeast infection? If you are not, you’ll have to write me again.

Vaginal yeast infections are very common, and the name of the yeast is Candida. It produces a thick, white, curdlike discharge that has no odor. Itching can be severe. Although these signs help identify the cause, proof of a yeast infection calls for identifying the yeast with the help of a microscope.

There are a large number of medicines that can be applied directly into the vagina that are almost always successful in eradicating it.

Relapsing Candida infections can be a big problem. Then treatment has to be prolonged, and often, a dose of medicine is given weekly for six months after the symptoms have disappeared.

The booklet on vaginal infections gives the details on spotting and treating the three most common kinds of these infections. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue – No. 1203, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband and I take Lipitor. We take it before dinner in the evening. We eat half a grapefruit after breakfast. Is that OK? – M.L.

ANSWER: You can take Lipitor any time of the day, and you can take it with or without food. It’s one of the statin drugs – the drugs that are such effective cholesterol-lowerers.

Grapefruit and Lipitor are not a good combination. Grapefruit can increase the blood concentration of this drug. It does the same with a few other medicines. This effect of grapefruit lasts for 24 hours, so even letting 12 hours pass before taking the drug after eating grapefruit doesn’t lessen the chance of this interaction occurring.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com

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