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 .