Licensed from
ADAM

Epilepsy

Basics

Definition & SymptomsCauses & Risk FactorsTests & DiagnosticsTreatmentsDrugs & SupplementsAlternative TherapiesComplicationsPrevention

Multimedia

Images3D MapsRelated Articles
Related Topics
Health Topics »
Health Search

Symptoms Search

Explore other causes of

Seizures
Alteration in consciousness
Involuntary movements

Doc Search

Find doctors for Epilepsy

Drug Search

Explore and compare medications

Definition

Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving repeated, spontaneous seizures of any type. Seizures ("fits," convulsions) are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention or behavior. They are caused by abnormally excited electrical signals in the brain.

See also: Seizures

Symptoms

The severity of symptoms can vary greatly, from simple staring spells to loss of consciousness and violent convulsions. For most people with epilepsy, each seizure is similar to previous ones. The type of seizure a person has depends on a variety of things, such as the part of the brain affected and the underlying cause of the seizure.

An aura consisting of a strange sensation (such as tingling, smelling an odor that isn't actually there, or emotional changes) occurs in some people prior to each seizure.

For a detailed description of the symptoms associated with a specific type of seizure, see:

Toptop

Related Articles

Seizures
A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. See also: Generalized tonic clonic seizure; Partial (focal) seizure; Petit mal (absence) seizure; Epilepsy; Fever (...  More »
ADAM

Loss of Consciousness
Unconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Often, this is called a coma or being in a comatose state. Other changes in awareness can occur without becoming unconscious. Medically, these are called "altered ment...  More »
ADAM

Involuntary Movements
Uncontrollable movements are slow, twisting, continuous, and involuntary movements of the arms, legs, face, neck, or other parts of the body. See also: Tardive dyskinesia  More »
ADAM

Toptop

Follow Yahoo! Health on and become a fan on

Follow @YahooHealth on
Related Videos
More Videos »
Related Health News

Vaccine may trigger early start of infant epilepsy

May 04, 2010 - Reuters

EU assured will act to end generics seizures: India's Sharma

Oct 20, 2010 - AFP

Stick with PKU therapy before pregnancy: study

Jan 10, 2012 - Reuters