Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

Course Summary

Epileptic seizures are caused by a part of the brain called a seizure focus that sends out erratic and uncoordinated electrical signals and a seizure will occur in response to these signals. Epilepsy is not considered to be a curable disease. However, it is a disease that can be managed. Although epilepsy is incurable, many people who have the disease are indistinguishable from those who do not have epilepsy. In the first year after someone has been diagnosed with epilepsy, approximately half of all patients will be free of seizures using only one anti-convulsant medication and there is a good chance that the epileptic patient will become seizure-free. The longer someone is free of seizures the more optimistic the outlook.