Epilepsy Summary Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have recurring seizures. The seizures happen when clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain send out the wrong signals. People may have strange sensations and emotions or behave strangely. They may have violent muscle spasms or lose consciousness. Epilepsy has many possible causes, including illness, brain injury, and abnormal brain development. In many cases, the cause is unknown. Doctors use brain scans and other tests to diagnose epilepsy. It is important to start treatment right away. There is no cure for epilepsy, but medicines can control seizures for most people. When medicines are not working well, surgery or implanted devices such as vagus nerve stimulators may help. Special diets can help some children with epilepsy. NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Start Here About Epilepsy Department of Veterans Affairs Epilepsy American Academy of Family Physicians Epilepsy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Epilepsy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Look at Epilepsy: Electrical Outbursts in the Brain National Institutes of Health Seizures and Epilepsy: Hope through Research National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Encyclopedia Brain PET scan Brain surgery – discharge Epilepsy – what to ask your doctor – adult Epilepsy – what to ask your doctor – child Head CT scan Array Brain surgery Craniotomy – slideshow EEG Epilepsy Epilepsy – children – discharge Epilepsy or seizures – discharge Statistics and Research Childhood Absence Epilepsy: Poor Attention Is More Than Seizures American Academy of Neurology Curing Epilepsy: The Promise of Research National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Epilepsy and Mood American Academy of Neurology Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Epilepsy National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Computed Tomography (CT) — Head Array EEG (Electroencephalogram) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Magnetic Resonance, Functional (fMRI) — Brain Array Specifics Dravet Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Related Issues Employees with Epilepsy Office of Disability Employment Policy Teenagers Epilepsy Nemours Foundation Children Epilepsy Nemours Foundation Infantile Spasms National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Women Epilepsy and Pregnancy American Academy of Family Physicians Epilepsy and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Women with Epilepsy: Drug Risks and Safety During Pregnancy American Academy of Neurology Treatments and Therapies Epilepsy Surgery Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research First Aid for Seizures Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treating Epilepsy American Academy of Neurology Find an Expert Find a Doctor American Epilepsy Society National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Aicardi syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: benign familial neonatal seizures National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: FOXG1 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: GM3 synthase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: hereditary hyperekplexia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: isodicentric chromosome 15 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: isolated lissencephaly sequence National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Koolen-de Vries syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Kufs disease National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Lafora progressive myoclonus epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: malignant migrating partial seizures of infancy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Northern epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: PRICKLE1-related progressive myoclonus epilepsy with ataxia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: ring chromosome 14 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: ring chromosome 20 syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Unverricht-Lundborg disease National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: X-linked infantile spasm syndrome National Library of Medicine Journal Articles Epilepsy Latest News Study Sees No Link Between Common Epilepsy Drug, Certain Birth Defects HealthDay One-a-Day Anti-Seizure Drug Shows Promise for People with Epilepsy HealthDay Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Epilepsy Risk, Study Suggests HealthDay Even Controlled, Epilepsy May Still Cause Problems for Kids HealthDay
