Epilepsy
human neurological disease causing seizures / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Epilepsy is a chronic condition of the brain. It is characterized by seizures that do not seem to have an obvious cause.[10][11] To the outside viewer, these seizures show as episodes of heavy shaking.[12] Depending on the seizure, the shaking may be short and difficult to detect or it may be longer.
Quick Facts Other names, Medical specialty ...
Epilepsy | |
---|---|
Other names | Seizure disorder |
Generalized 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharges on an electroencephalogram | |
Medical specialty | Neurology |
Symptoms | Periods of vigorous shaking, nearly undetectable spells[1] |
Duration | Long term[1] |
Causes | Unknown, brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, infections of the brain, birth defects[1][2][3] |
Diagnostic method | Electroencephalogram, ruling out other possible causes[4] |
Differential diagnosis | Fainting, alcohol withdrawal, electrolyte problems[4] |
Treatment | Medication, surgery, neurostimulation, dietary changes[5][6] |
Prognosis | Controllable in 69%[7] |
Frequency | 39 million / 0.5% (2015)[8] |
Deaths | 125,000 (2015)[9] |
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People with epilepsy are sometimes called epileptic, but it is the fit or seizure that is "epileptic".
Many people have died from seizures.