EPILEPSY

Epilepsy is a disorder of brain function that results in repeated seizures. A seizure is the result of a shift in the normal balance of electrical energy flow in the brain. A seizure may be dramatic, causing convulsions, confusion, and uncontrollable shaking. Or, it may go unnoticed by everyone except the person experiencing it. After a dramatic seizure, you (or your loved one) may feel tired or dazed, and may not remember what happened prior to and during the seizure.

Epilepsy can affect people of all ages. Causes in infants and very young children include family history, severe injury to or infection of the nervous system, or developmental disorders. In teenagers and young adults, common causes include family history, severe injury or infection of the nervous system, brain tumor, and illegal drug use. Older people may develop epilepsy as a result of stroke (responsible for 50% of new cases in people over 65) and injury. However, epilepsy also appears to happen for no reason at all.