Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes seizures, and it is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders in the world, affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. The majority of those with epilepsy live in low or middle income nations, 80 percent of the epileptic population. Approximately three quarter of that population lacks access to the care they need to address their symptoms. Seizures resulting from epilepsy can vary in frequency and intensity, with some epileptic individuals experiencing a seizure once annually, while others may experience several seizures each day. The seizures result from an excess in electrical emissions in specific lobes of the brain. Some seizures can result in loss of consciousness, injuries from spasming and loss of control of bowels and bladder. Seizures can be partial, affecting isolated parts of the body, or generalized, affecting the entire body. Not all seizure episodes result in a epileptic diagnosis. Epilepsy is defined as having two or more “unprovoked” or unexplained seizures.¹