Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterised by repeated, spontaneous seizures. Epilepsy is diagnosed when a person has two unprovoked seizures (or one unprovoked seizure with the possibility of more) that are not caused by a recognised and reversible medical disease such as alcohol withdrawal or severely low blood sugar.
Seizures in epilepsy may be caused by a brain damage or a genetic predisposition, although the reason is frequently unclear. The term “epilepsy” says nothing about the source or severity of the person’s seizures. Many patients with epilepsy experience more than one type of seizure and may also have other neurological symptoms. A group of persons with epilepsy may have comparable EEG (electroencephalogram) tests, clinical history, family history, and prognosis. In some cases, their disease is classified as a particular epilepsy syndrome.
Symptoms
- Temporary perplexity
- A period of gazing
- Muscle stiffness
- Jerking motions of the arms and legs that are uncontrollable
- Consciousness or awareness loss
- Fear, anxiety, or a sense of déjà vu are examples of psychological symptoms.
The symptoms of a seizure differ depending on the kind of seizure. A person with epilepsy will often experience the same sort of seizure each time, thus the symptoms will be consistent from episode to episode. Seizures are classified as either focal or generalised by doctors based on how and where the abnormal brain activity occurs.
