South East Essex Epilepsy Support Group

Banishing fear with understanding

What is epilepsy

Epilepsy is the tendency to have repeated seizures that start in the brain. Epilepsy is usually only diagnosed after a person has had more than one seizure (sometimes called fits).

Epilepsy is a common serious neurological condition where there is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. Not all seizures are due to epilepsy. Seizures can happen for many different reasons, such as diabetes or a heart condition. Here, when we use the term 'seizure' we mean epileptic seizure.

More than half a million people in the UK have epilepsy, which is around 1 in 100 people. Anyone can develop epilepsy: it happens in all ages, races and social classes. Epilepsy is most commonly diagnosed in children and people over 65. There are over 40 types of epilepsy, so just knowing that a person 'has epilepsy' does not tell you very much about their epilepsy and the type of seizures they have. Each person will experience epilepsy in a way that is unique to them. Should you wish to discover more about the different types of seizures please click on this link to the Epilepsy Society .

Diagnosis

Treatment

First Aid

Safety

The law

Living with epilepsy

Education and work

Children and Epilepsy

2016 South East Essex Epilepsy Support Group

s.e.essex.epilepsysupport@gmail.com


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