Epilepsy 

is a group of neurological disorderscharacterized by epileptic seizures.

[10][11]Epileptic seizures are episodes that can vary from brief and nearly
undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking.[1] These episodes can
result in physical injuries, including occasionally broken bones.[1] In epilepsy,
seizures tend to recur and, as a rule, have no immediate underlying cause.
[10]Isolated seizures that are provoked by a specific cause such as poisoning are
not deemed to represent epilepsy.[12] People with epilepsy may be treated
differently in various areas of the world and experience varying degrees of social
stigma due to their condition.[1]

Symptoms
Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in the brain, seizures can affect any
process your brain coordinates. Seizure signs and symptoms may include:

 Temporary confusion

 A staring spell

 Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs

 Loss of consciousness or awareness

 Psychic symptoms such as fear, anxiety or deja vu

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy
will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar
from episode to episode.

Doctors generally classify seizures as either focal or generalized, based on how the
abnormal brain activity begins.

Causes
Nerve cells (neurons) in the brain create, send and receive electrical impulses, which
allow the brain's nerve cells to communicate. Anything that disrupts these
communication pathways can lead to a seizure.

The most common cause of seizures is epilepsy. But not every person who has a
seizure has epilepsy. Sometimes seizures happen because of:

 High fever, which can be associated with an infection such as meningitis

 Lack of sleep
  Low blood sodium (hyponatremia), which can happen with diuretic therapy

 Medications, such as certain pain relievers, antidepressants or smoking cessation

therapies, that lower the seizure threshold

 Head trauma that causes an area of bleeding in the brain

 Stroke

 Brain tumor

 Illegal or recreational drugs, such as amphetamines or cocaine

 Alcohol abuse, during times of withdrawal or extreme intoxication

Complications
Having a seizure at certain times can lead to circumstances that are dangerous for you
or others. You might be at risk of:

 Falling. If you fall during a seizure, you can injure your head or break a bone.

 Drowning. If you have a seizure while swimming or bathing, you're at risk of accidental
drowning.

 Car accidents. A seizure that causes either loss of awareness or control can be
dangerous if you're driving a car or operating other equipment.

 Pregnancy complications. Seizures during pregnancy pose dangers to both mother and

baby, and certain anti-epileptic medications increase the risk of birth defects. If you have
epilepsy and plan to become pregnant, work with your doctor so that he or she can adjust
your medications and monitor your pregnancy, as needed.

 Emotional health issues. People with seizures are more likely to have psychological
problems, such as depression and anxiety. Problems may be a result of difficulties dealing
with the condition itself as well as medication side effects.

Treatment
Not everyone who has one seizure will have another one, and because a seizure can
be an isolated incident, your doctor may not decide to start treatment until you've had
more than one.

The optimal goal in seizure treatment is to find the best possible therapy to stop
seizures, with the fewest side effects.
Medication

Treatment for seizures often involves the use of anti-seizure medications. Several
options exist for anti-seizure medications. The goal is to find the medicine that works
best for you and that causes the fewest side effects. In some cases, your doctor might
recommend more than one medication.

Finding the right medication and dosage can be complex. Your doctor will consider your
condition, your frequency of seizures, your age and other factors when choosing which
medication to prescribe. Your doctor will also review any other medications you may be
taking, to ensure the anti-epileptic medications won't interact with them.
Surgery and other therapies

If anti-seizure medications aren't effective, other treatments may be an option:

 Surgery. The goal of surgery is to stop seizures from happening. Surgeons locate and
remove the area of your brain where seizures begin. Surgery works best for people who
have seizures that always originate in the same place in their brains.

 Vagus nerve stimulation. A device implanted underneath the skin of your chest
stimulates the vagus nerve in your neck, sending signals to your brain that inhibit seizures.
With vagus nerve stimulation, you may still need to take medication, but you may be able
to lower the dose.

 Responsive neurostimulation. During responsive neurostimulation, a device implanted

on the surface of your brain or within brain tissue can detect seizure activity and deliver an
electrical stimulation to the detected area to stop the seizure.

 Deep brain stimulation. Doctors implant electrodes within certain areas of your brain to
produce electrical impulses that regulate abnormal brain activity. The electrodes attach to
a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin of your chest, which controls the amount of
stimulation produced.

 Dietary therapy. Following a diet that's high in fat and low in carbohydrates, known as a
ketogenic diet, can improve seizure control. Variations on a high-fat, low-carbohydrate
diet, such as the low glycemic index and modified Atkins diets, though less effective, aren't
as restrictive as the ketogenic diet and may provide benefit.