What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition which causes people to have seizures (sometimes called fits or convulsions).

 

A seizure is caused by a sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain, which depending on the type of seizure, can result in range involuntary actions such as loss of consciousness, automatic or involuntary movements and changes of awareness (e.g. staring blankly into space.)

 

Seizure Types

Many people will have a single seizure at some time in their lives, but this does not mean that they have epilepsy.

 

Although seizures can appear dramatic and frightening to an observer, it is important to realise that the person affected normally feels no pain during a seizure and may have no memory of it afterwards.

 

There are many types of seizure each having a range of different symptoms. Further information about the different types of seizure can be obtained from:

 

•  National Society for Epilepsy

 

•  Epilepsy Action

 

•  Epilepsy Canada

 

  

DID YOU KNOW?

 

Only seizures are epileptic, not people

 

__________

 

Most seizures are not harmful to the brain and the person affected usually recovers quickly

 

__________

 

Some very young children have convulsions that happen when they are ill and have a very high temperature. These are ‘febrile convulsions' and are not the same as epileptic seizures

NB: Any display of such symptoms should be referred to a doctor

The causes of epilepsy can be put into three different groups

  
 

The reasons why some people develop epilepsy are not straightforward, there are many possible causes. Whatever the reason, a person's seizure threshold will play a key role. Each group shown here includes a number of different types of seizure.

  

Symptomatic epilepsy

There is a known cause for a person's epilepsy. The causes can include head injury, infections of the brain such as meningitis, a stroke, or because of a scar on the brain. Images from scans of the brain may show what the cause is. The response to drug treatment can vary from person to person.

 

Idiopathic epilepsy

There is no clear cause for the seizures suddenly starting. It is thought having a low seizure threshold could be the reason. The response to epilepsy drug treatment is usually good. In 7 out of 10 cases epilepsy has no identifiable cause.

 

 

Cryptogenic epilepsy

When a known cause for a person's epilepsy starting cannot be proved, but one is suspected, a person may be told that they have cryptogenic epilepsy.
 
 
             Giving Help and Information about Epilepsy Mid-Yorkshire Epilepsy Support Group