What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain in which clusters of nerve cells (or neurones) send off abnormal electrical signals.
Normally, neurones send electrical signals that act to produce thoughts, feelings, sensations and actions. When a seizure occurs, the normal pattern of brain activity is disturbed causing strange movements, sensations, emotions and behaviour. Convulsions may occur with muscle spasms and loss of consciousness.
Epilepsy is not caused by mental illness or learning difficulties although it is much more common in individuals with learning difficulties (at least 25% have epilepsy).
Having a seizure does not necessarily mean that a child has epilepsy. Only when a child has 2 or more seizures are they considered to have epilepsy. Adolescents may grow out of epilepsy and some patients (of any age) may go many years without a seizure; 60% of patients may discontinue medication.
Incidence/Prevalence
- Epileptic seizures, including febrile convulsions occur in 3-5% of children.
- Epilepsy starts in childhood in 60% of cases and most of the clinically significant aspects of the disease occur during childhood.
- Many children who experience a first seizure may never experience a second seizure. However, a seizure may be the initial presentation of a more serious medical condition.
In one study from Finland, the point prevalence of active epilepsy was found to be 3.93 per 1000 in children aged 0 -15 years.
