Epilepsy: National Coordinating Center for Epilepsy

Epilepsy Overview

Epilepsy is a brain disorder where a person has recurring seizures. Seizures are sudden events that cause temporary changes in physical movement, sensation, behavior, or consciousness. They are caused by abnormal electrical and chemical changes in the brain.

There are many different types of seizures. Some are very short, lasting only a few seconds, while others can last a few minutes. The type of seizure a person has depends on where the seizure occurs in the brain and how much of the brain is involved.

A doctor would likely diagnose a child with epilepsy if the following were true:

• The child has had one or more unprovoked seizures.
• The doctor thinks the child is likely to have a seizure again.
• The child's seizures are not directly caused by another medical condition, like diabetes, a severe infection, or an acute brain injury.