March 26: Epilepsy Awareness Day
What is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a broad term used for a brain disorder that causes seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes seizures. These seizures are not caused by a temporary underlying medical condition such as a high fever.
Epilepsy can affect people in very different ways. This is because there are many causes and many different kinds of seizures. Some people may have multiple types of seizures or other medical conditions in addition to epilepsy. These factors play a major role in determining both the severity of the person’s condition and the impact it has on his or her life.
Epilepsy can be caused by different conditions that affect a person’s brain. Often times the cause is unknown. Some causes include:
- Stroke
- Brain tumor
- Traumatic brain injury or head injury
- Central nervous system infection
Epilepsy is a public health problem that is common, challenging, and complex for individuals to manage. A person with epilepsy is not contagious and cannot give epilepsy to another person.
Source: cdc.gov