Epilepsy

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Seizure Disorder/Epilepsy

A seizure is defined as a sudden, excessive electrical discharge of neurons altering brain function and producing characteristic electrophysiological changes. Epilepsy is differentiated from a seizure and is defined as repeated unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy is a symptom, not a specific disease (see Causes of Seizures below). Epilepsy is the most common neurological problem in childhood with 4-8 per 1000 children being affected. Fifty percent of epilepsy begins before age five and 75% of individuals have their first seizure before age 20 (Kim, 1991). A tendency to have recurrent seizures over the course of a lifetime is higher if the first seizure occurs during childhood or adolescence. The following information is provided to give you some basic information about seizure disorders and epilepsy. Resources are provided in the reference section for more advanced study.

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