Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic diseases in the world, and is present in up to 4% of the world's population.
Epilepsy is a medical condition that
produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s
also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked
seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.
A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of
electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. One in 10 adults will
have a seizure sometime during their life.
Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few
minutes. They can have many symptoms, from convulsions and loss of
consciousness to some that are not always recognized as seizures by the person
experiencing them or by health care professionals: blank staring, lip smacking,
or jerking movements of arms and legs.