Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common and diverse set of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. Epileptic seizures result from abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the
brain. About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly 80% of epilepsy occurs in developing countries. Epilepsy becomes more common as people age. Onset of new cases occurs most frequently in infants and the elderly. As a consequence of brain surgery, epileptic seizures may occur in recovering patients.

Epilepsies are classified in five ways:

1. By their first cause.


2. By the observable manifestations of the seizures, known as semiology.


3. By the location in the brain where the seizures originate.


4. As a part of discrete, identifiable medical syndrome.
   
5. By the event that triggers the seizures, such as reading or
   music