Understanding Epilepsy: Seizures, Causes, Care

Definition and core features of epilepsy

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders defined by a long-term tendency to have recurrent, unprovoked seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause symptoms ranging from brief lapses of awareness or muscle jerks to prolonged convulsions. Epilepsy is typically diagnosed when a person has at least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart, though in some cases it may be diagnosed after a single unprovoked seizure if the risk of recurrence is high. Isolated seizures that do not recur or are provoked by identifiable causes are not considered epilepsy. Core features include the variety of seizure types and their clinical patterns, as well as the typical course and impact of the condition. Seizures are commonly classified into focal, generalized, unknown (focal or generalized not determined), and unclassified. Focal seizures begin in one brain region and may spread, sometimes with preserved or impaired awareness; generalized seizures rapidly involve both hemispheres and can include tonic-clonic, absence, myoclonic, atonic, and other forms. Epilepsy also includes characteristic post-seizure recovery (postictal state), possible psychosocial and mental health effects, and identifiable triggers that lower the seizure threshold (such as sleep deprivation, stress, fever, illness, menstruation, alcohol, and certain medications).

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Seizure types: focal, generalized, unknown, unclassified

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