Epilepsy

Epilepsy is an abnormality of brain function which can affect consciousness, awareness, sensation or movement. An attack is termed a seizure because the sufferer appears to be 'seized' by an outside force.

A seizure occurs when there is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in a part of the brain, often in a region where there has previously been damage. Initially the discharge may be local, causing twitching of one part of the body - a partial seizure. It may spread across the whole of the brain, causing a generalized seizure, with loss of consciousness, jerking of all limbs and possible incontinence. This is called GRAND MAL EPILEPSY.

It may simply cause loss of awareness for a short period of time - a number of seconds - termed an absence attack. This is PETIT MAL EPILEPSY.

Depending on the part of the brain affected, there may be odd sensations of taste, or smell, or emotion, such as fear. Epilepsy may be the first sign of an underlying tumour. Attacks are worse in times of infection, so sufferers may need to increase their treatment in order to reduce the frequency of seizures.
 
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