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. In fact, each year, approximately 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with epilepsy. Find out what causes epilepsy. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, the prognosis for most people is excellent. With appropriate treatment, up to 70 percent of people with epilepsy will become seizure-free.
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 disruption spreads. There are many types of seizures, with symptoms ranging from a tingling in a finger to the loss of consciousness, stiffened arms and legs, and bodily jerking experienced during a tonic-clonic seizure. Learn more about the different types of seizures.
Having a seizure does not necessarily mean that a person has epilepsy. For example, seizures caused by a high fever or alcohol or drug withdrawal generally stop once withdrawal passes. It’s also possible to experience seizure-like symptoms without actually experiencing a seizure; symptoms like fainting, collapsing, or being confused can result from stress or from other disorders. Only when a person has had two or more seizures that aren’t connected to other medical conditions is he or she considered to have epilepsy.
Some types of epilepsy, particularly in children, may go away on their own. However, a neurologist should always be consulted if your child experiences a seizure. Only a neurologist can diagnose whether the seizure is epilepsy and determine the most appropriate course of treatment. Learn about epilepsy diagnosis.
Next: Causes of Epilepsy