What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that has been known to mankind since ancient times. It affects the brain to cause repeated convulsions or seizures – also called fits in common parlance. The word “epilepsy” comes from the Greek and means to be taken, seized or attacked.

Who does epilepsy affect?

Epilepsy affects more than 500,000 people in the UK and several hundreds of thousands worldwide. Epilepsy is a life-long tendency and seizures may begin at any time during life and occur sporadically, spontaneously or frequently. Some of the epilepsies are confined to particular age groups while others affect all age groups.

Causes of epilepsy

Epilepsy may develop after a brain injury or insult. Severe lack of oxygen at birth (asphyxia), head injury, brain infections (meningitis and encephalitis) may lead to epilepsy. This is called symptomatic epilepsy or secondary epilepsy.

In many individuals epilepsy may develop without any identifiable cause and then it is called idiopathic epilepsy or primary epilepsy.

Cryptogenic epilepsy is a condition when no evidence of damage to the brain can be found, but other symptoms, such as learning difficulties, suggest that damage to the brain has occurred.

Symptoms of epilepsy

Seizures are the most common symptom of epilepsy. A seizure is a result of excessive nerve-cell discharges in the brain. When there is excess discharge of tiny microscopic electric impulses in the brain at a region, they travel fast all over the brain via neurons. During a seizure, the electrical impulses are disrupted, which can cause the brain and body to behave abnormally.

The severity of the seizures can differ from person to person. While some may go into a “trance like” stage for a few seconds or minutes, others may lose consciousness. Yet others may have convulsions or uncontrollable shaking of the body.

Types of epilepsy

Seizures are divided into two main types – generalised and partial. Generalised seizures occur if the abnormal electrical activity affects all or most of the brain. This affects most of the body. A tonic-clonic seizure is the most common type of generalised seizure. The whole body stiffens and the person loses consciousness and falls. This is followed by a violent uncontrollable shaking. Absence seizure is another type of generalised seizure. The person may lose consciousness or awareness. This is common in children. Other types include a myoclonic seizure, a tonic seizure and an atonic seizure.

Partial seizures are also called focal seizures. Here only one part of the brain is affected. There may be localised (focal) symptoms. These may be simple partial seizures or complex partial seizures.

Sometimes a partial seizure develops into a generalised seizure. This is called a secondary generalised seizure.

Diagnosis of epilepsy

Epilepsy is most often diagnosed after more than one seizure or fit. Description of the seizure and its video recording often helps to diagnose the type of epilepsy. Scans of the brain using CT scans and MRI are used to detect visible brain damage. EEG or Electro Encephalogram is used to detect the electrical activities of the brain.

Epilepsy treatment

Epilepsy generally has no cure. There are however several medications that can be used to control seizures. These are known as anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). In around 70% of cases, seizures are successfully controlled by AEDs. The right dose and combination or type of drug may require some trials and adjustments. In some cases, surgery may be used to remove the area of the brain affected or to install an electrical device that can help control seizures.

Further Reading

• All Epilepsy Content
• Epilepsy Classification
• Epilepsy Epidemiology
• Epilepsy Pathophysiology
• Epilepsy Seizure Types

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.