Epilepsy
Definition of epilepsy:
Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving recurrent seizures.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors of epilepsy:
Epilepsy is a disorder involving repeated seizures of any type. Seizures ("fits") are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention and/or behavior. They are caused by abnormal electrical excitation in the brain.
Sometimes, epilepsy is related to a temporary condition, such as exposure to drugs, withdrawal from certain drugs, or abnormal levels of sodium or glucose in the blood. In such cases, repeated seizures may not recur once the underlying problem is corrected.
In other cases, injury to the brain (e.g., stroke or head injury) causes brain tissue to be abnormally excitable. In some people, an inherited abnormality affects nerve cells in the brain, which leads to seizures. In some cases, no cause at all can be identified.
Seizure disorders affect about 0.5% of the population. Approximately 1.5 to 5.0% of the population may have a seizure in their lifetime. Epilepsy can affect people of any age.
Risk factors for epilepsy include a family history of epilepsy, head injury, or other condition that causes damage to the brain.
Epilepsy
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