Seizures and Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness. Anyone can develop epilepsy. Epilepsy affects both males and females of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages. Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases. Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure- free if properly diagnosed and treated.

Epilepsy is not contagious. Although many underlying disease mechanisms can lead to epilepsy, the cause of the disease is still unknown with certainty, in about 50% of cases globally. The causes of epilepsy are: structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune and unknown. The last idiopathic seizures now have been proved due to genetic abnormalities: Known causes are brain damage from prenatal or perinatal causes (e.g., a loss of oxygen or trauma during birth, low birth weight); congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions with associated brain malformations; a severe head injury; a stroke that restricts the amount of oxygen to the brain; a brain infection such as meningitis, encephalitis or neurocysticercosis, certain genetic syndromes; and brain tumors.