Epilepsy Disease

What is Epilepsy Disease?

People with epilepsy experience recurrent seizures, because a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain causes a temporary disturbance in the messaging systems between brain cells.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe epilepsy as "a common neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures."

Fast facts on epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder.
• Primary symptoms commonly include seizures.
• Seizures have a range of severity depending on the individual.
• Treatments include anti-seizure medications.

Epilepsy symptoms

The main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. If one or more of the following symptoms are present, the individual should see a doctor, especially if they recur:

• a convulsion with no temperature (no fever)
• short spells of blackout, or confused memory
• Intermittent fainting spells, during which bowel or bladder control is lost, which is frequently followed by extreme tiredness
• for a short period, the person is unresponsive to instructions or questions
• the person becomes stiff, suddenly, for no apparent reason
• the person suddenly falls for no clear reason

Causes of epilepsy?

Every function in the human body is triggered by messaging systems in our brain. Epilepsy results when this system is disrupted due to faulty electrical activity.

In many cases, the exact cause is not known. Some people have inherited genetic factors that make epilepsy more likely to occur.

• head trauma, for instance, during a car crash
• brain conditions, including stroke or tumors
• infectious diseases, for instance, AIDS and viral encephalitis
• prenatal injury, or brain damage that occurs before birth
• developmental disorders, for instance, autism or neurofibromatosis

It is most likely to appear in children under 2 years of age, and adults over 65 years.