Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a condition that causes somebody to have repeated fits. The medical term for an epileptic fit is seizure.

Epilepsy is a relatively common condition, affecting around 456,000 people in the UK. Epilepsy usually begins during childhood, although it can start at any age. Around one in every 280 children is affected by epilepsy.

Seizures

The cells in the brain, known as neurons, communicate with each other by using electrical impulses. During a seizure, the electrical impulses are disrupted, which can cause both the brain and the body to behave strangely.

The severity of the seizures can differ from person to person. Some people will simply experience a ‘trance-like’ state for a few seconds, or minutes, whereas others will lose consciousness and have convulsions (uncontrollable shaking of the body).

Types of epilepsy

There are three main types of epilepsy:

• symptomatic epilepsy - where the symptoms of epilepsy are due to damage or disruption to the brain,
• cryptogenic epilepsy - where while no evidence of damage to the brain can be found, there are other symptoms such as learning difficulties, that suggest that damage to the brain has occurred, and
• idiopathic epilepsy - where no obvious cause for epilepsy can be found.

See the causes section for more information about the different types of epilepsy.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

Epilepsy is not usually a life-threatening condition. However, each year in the UK, a small number of people die from epilepsy. Accidents and status epilepticus (an uncommon type of seizure) account for some deaths, but the most common cause of death from epilepsy is Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Approximately 500 people die from SUDEP in the UK each year. However, it should be stressed that SUDEPs are very rare, affecting just 0.5% of people with severe epilepsy.

There are many different types of epilepsy, and the risk of SUDEP developing will vary depending on the type of epilepsy that you have and how effectively it is managed. For a small number of people, the risk of SUDEP may be higher. This is why it is important to understand your own type of epilepsy and how best to manage it.

Outlook

Epilepsy is a long-term condition and, for most people, the outlook is very good. Symptoms can usually be controlled using a class of medication known as anti-epileptic drugs (AED).

However, it can take some time to find the right type of AED, and the correct dose, before your seizures are brought under control.

With a clear understanding of your epilepsy and good management of your seizures, the risk of SUDEP can be minimised.