15 Key Facts About Epilepsy

Introduction:

Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition and the most common serious brain disorder. Epilepsy is characterized by repeated seizures. A seizure is a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain that causes temporary physical changes in movement, awareness, feelings, behavior, or other bodily functions.

Facts About Epilepsy

1. Epilepsy can affect anyone, at any age and from any walk of life (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Epilepsy
   
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2. Epilepsy is most frequently diagnosed in infancy, childhood, adolescence, and old age (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Epilepsy in children
   
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3. An estimated 65 million people worldwide currently live with epilepsy (4^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   International Epilepsy Day - A day notified for global public education & awareness
   
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4. Epilepsy affects approximately 5 million people worldwide each year (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Epilepsy: Facts
   
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5. Epilepsy affects approximately 2.3 million adults and over 450,000 children and adolescents in the United States. An estimated 150,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year (6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Epilepsy and Seizures
   
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6. It is commonly thought that epilepsy always involves convulsions (body muscles contract and relax uncontrollably). In fact there are around 40 different types of epilepsy and epilepsy syndromes (7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Epilepsy Information
   
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7. The risk of epilepsy in developing countries is almost double that of developed countries (8^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Epidemiology and classification of epilepsy: gender comparisons
   
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8. It is estimated that if epilepsy is properly diagnosed and treated, up to 70% of people will be seizure-free. Unfortunately, in developing countries, more than 80% of people with epilepsy may not receive the treatment they need (9^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Seizures and epilepsy: an overview for neuroscientists
   
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9. Epilepsy is associated with an increased risk of death, which may be related to suicide, cardio-respiratory arrest, prolonged seizures, and brain diseases such as tumour or head injury.
10. On average, 49 out of every 100,000 people in high-income countries are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. This rate can reach 139 per 100,000 individuals in low- and middle-income nations.
11. Up to 5% of people have photosensitive epilepsy (seizures when exposed to flashing lights). Photosensitive epilepsy is more common in children and young people. It is less commonly diagnosed after the age of 20 (10^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Photosensitivity and epilepsy: Current concepts and perspectives-A narrative review
    
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12. A person who has been seizure-free for a year can re-apply for their driving license, depending on the local rules (11^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Frequently Asked Questions About Epilepsy
    
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13. People with epilepsy are up to three times more likely to die prematurely than the general population.
14. Children with epilepsy often experience learning issues as a result of their seizures. These may create difficulty in acquiring new skills, poor working memory, and a lack of knowledge (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Epilepsy in children
    
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15. Epilepsy is not contagious; it can be controlled with appropriate treatments (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Epilepsy: Facts
    
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