Epilepsy 

     Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures.  A seizure is an abnormal electrical discharge of the brain.   Seizures can occur in anyone under extreme circumstances (eg. during brain infections, low sugar or in children with fevers), however when seizures occur repetitively without any clear provoking factor, this is termed epilepsy. 

     There are many types of epilepsy, but, in general, they can be divided into several categories.  These include inherited causes (genetic susceptibility), symptomatic causes (old strokes or birth injury) or cryptogenic causes (no clear cause is evident).  Several tests can be done to try and locate the cause including CT/MRI scans and EEG.  EEG’s measure the brain’s electrical activity the way an EKG measures the heart’s electrical activity.

     The most common treatment for epilepsy is medication.  Recently, multiple new medications have been released giving people with epilepsy more treatment options.  Other treatments when medications fail include surgery to remove the cause of the seizures, vagal nerve stimulation and dietary treatments (usually for small children).