epilepsy is one of the most common neurological
disorders involving the
nervous system, experts often cannot explain exactly
how or why the disease develops and how or why the abnormal electrical activity
in the brain occurs. Epilepsy does not always follow a predictable course. It
can develop at any age and may get worse over time or get better.
Although uncommon, epilepsy that begins in a specific area of the brain
may eventually affect another part of the brain. Some types of childhood
epilepsy disappear after the child reaches the teenage years. Other types may
continue for life. Epilepsy that started after a head injury may disappear
after several years or may last the rest of your life.
There is no
cure for epilepsy. But treatment can control
epileptic seizures, sometimes preventing them from
ever occurring again.
Quality of life
Epilepsy and uncontrolled seizures
can put limitations on your independence, self-esteem, and quality of life.
With epilepsy, you may have trouble getting or keeping a driver's
license. If you become pregnant, complications can occur. Your career choices
may be limited. Some people with epilepsy face discrimination at work or school
due to other people's fears and misconceptions about this condition.
news is that proper treatment may allow you to control seizures, which can lead
to improved quality of life and allow you to better cope with the
Finding out you have epilepsy can be hard. You may
not be able to do some of the things you used to take for granted (such as
driving a car). Epilepsy is also a disease that can be hard to treat for some
people, especially at first. You may need to try many different types of
medicines before you find one that works just right. All of these things may
make you feel sad or angry. It may help you to talk to a
counselor if you are feeling bad about having
Concerns about mental health or intelligence
Epilepsy does not cause and is not a form of mental illness. And in general it does not affect your ability to think and learn. Most people with
epilepsy have normal intelligence. Children with epilepsy may have a hard time performing in school, but this is usually not the result of below-normal
absence seizures, for instance, may explain why a
child seems to "zone out" or not pay attention during class. Some medicines
used to control seizures may affect a child's ability to stay focused at
A few, rare childhood epilepsy syndromes are exceptions to
this in that they are typically associated with reduced intelligence, delayed
physical and mental development, and other problems. These include
infantile spasms (West syndrome),
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and
Rasmussen syndrome, among others. Tests, such as neuropsychological tests, can help your doctor find out if a problem in the brain is affecting your child's ability to reason, concentrate, solve problems, or remember.
epilepsy is often a lifelong (chronic) disease, it can be hard to understand
how much your life will change. Some people may have feelings of despair,
depression, or anxiety after hearing that they have epilepsy. In some studies,
adults with epilepsy had a higher risk of suicide, especially if they had also
been diagnosed with depression or another mental illness, and especially within
6 months of being diagnosed with epilepsy.1 For more information on depression, see the topic Depression.
If you or another adult friend or family member was just diagnosed with
epilepsy or just started a new treatment for epilepsy, you may want to watch for suicidal thoughts or threats. For more
information on what to watch for, see the topic
Suicidal Thoughts or Threats.
Complications of seizures
themselves usually cause no harm—the danger lies in where you are or what you
are doing when the seizure occurs. There is always a risk of head injury,
broken bones, and other injuries from falling or from drowning if you are swimming
or bathing at the time of the seizure. It can be dangerous to be operating
driving when you have a seizure. You cannot
swallow your tongue during seizures. But you can choke on food, vomit, or an object
in your mouth.
Some seizures may place temporary but severe stress
on the body and cause problems with the muscles, lungs, or heart. Choking, an
abnormal heartbeat, or other problems may cause sudden
death, though this is rare. Untreated seizures that become more severe or
frequent may lead to these problems. One of the most dangerous complications of
epilepsy is a prolonged seizure condition that can result in brain damage or