Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity -- such as illness, brain damage, or abnormal brain development -- can lead to
seizures. Epilepsy may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or some combination of these factors.
Epilepsy is not contagious and is not caused by mental illness or mental retardation.
Having a
seizure does not necessarily mean that a person has epilepsy. Only when a person has had two or more seizures is he or she considered to have epilepsy. Electroencephalograms (EEGs) and brain scans are common tests used to diagnose epilepsy.
Once epilepsy is diagnosed, it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible. For about 80 percent of those diagnosed with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with modern medicines and surgical techniques. In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the
vagus nerve stimulator for use in people with seizures that are not well-controlled by medication.
While epilepsy cannot currently be cured, for some people it does eventually go away. One study found that children with idiopathic epilepsy, or epilepsy with an unknown cause, had a 68 to 92 percent chance of becoming seizure-free by 20 years after their diagnosis.
The odds of becoming seizure-free are not as good for adults or for children with severe epilepsy syndromes, but it is nonetheless possible that seizures may decrease or even stop over time. This is more likely if the epilepsy has been well-controlled by medication or if the person has had
epilepsy surgery.
Most seizures do not cause brain damage. It is not uncommon for people with epilepsy, especially children, to develop behavioral and emotional problems, sometimes the consequence of embarrassment and frustration or bullying, teasing, or avoidance in school and other social settings.
For many people with epilepsy, the risk of seizures restricts their independence (some states refuse driver's licenses to people with epilepsy) and recreational activities.
People with epilepsy are at special risk for two life-threatening conditions:
status epilepticus and sudden unexplained death.
Most women with epilepsy can become pregnant, but they should discuss their epilepsy and the medications they are taking with their doctors. Women with epilepsy have a 90 percent or better chance of having a normal, healthy baby.
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