What is epilepsy?
What are seizures?
What causes epilepsy?
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
What types of doctors treat epilepsy?
How is epilepsy treated?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which people experience repeated seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, more than 3 million people in the United States have experienced a seizure or been diagnosed with epilepsy. A person is only diagnosed with epilepsy after he or she has experienced two or more seizures that aren’t connected to other medical conditions like fever or drug or alcohol withdrawal.
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A seizure is the result of a sudden disruption of orderly communication among nerve cells in the brain. This disruption causes different symptoms depending on the location of the seizure and how the abnormal electrical activity spreads. There are many types of seizures, with symptoms ranging from a tingling in a finger to the loss of consciousness, stiffened arms and/or legs, and bodily jerking experienced during a tonic-clonic seizure.
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Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes. Anything that interrupts the brain’s normal activity can lead to seizures. Epilepsy can be inherited, or it can result from a birth defect, birth or head injury, brain tumor, or an infection in the brain. In some cases, epilepsy may develop due to abnormal nerve connections that form as the brain heals after a head injury, stroke, or other problem. In about 70 percent of people with epilepsy, the exact cause cannot be determined. When the exact cause of epilepsy is not known, it is referred to as idiopathic epilepsy.
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Only a neurologist can diagnose epilepsy. To make a diagnosis, the neurologist may order a neurological exam, blood tests, an electroencephalogram (EEG), and other tests like a CAT or MRI scan.
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In many cases, a person’s initial diagnosis of epilepsy is made by their primary care provider, family doctor, or an emergency department physician. To get the type of specialized care a complex condition like epilepsy requires, you should see a specialist. A variety of specialists treat epilepsy. These include adult and pediatric epileptologists, physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, and adult and pediatric neurologists, physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system, including epilepsy. Epilepsy treatment is often provided in a specialized Epilepsy Center, where a treatment team of specialists in multiple fields offer a full range of treatment options.
The Epilepsy Foundation offers a state-by-state directory of epileptologists and Epilepsy Centers. Visit the Epilepsy Foundation to find a specialist.
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Everyone’s epilepsy is different, so the most appropriate treatment depends on the individual being treated. One thing that doesn’t vary is the ultimate goal of epilepsy treatment: seizure freedom with minimal side effects.
The most common treatment is with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Your neurologist may prescribe one or many AEDs to find the best treatment option for you. Other treatment options include ketogenic diet, Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS), and surgery. Learn more about treatment options.
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Next: My Epilepsy