Name | Epilepsy |
Related to/Also known as | |
Symptoms of Epilepsy | Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures, which tend to recur spontaneously. These seizures occur when there is an electrical disturbance in the brain, and the signals it sends to the body become mixed up, rather like an electrical storm in the brain. |
Types |
There are many different types of seizure, usually divided into two categories - generalised or partial. Typically a seizure may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Partial seizure - affects only part of the brain. Consciousness is not lost in a simple partial seizure; consciousness is impaired in a complex partial seizure. Generalised seizures affect the whole brain, and often involve a loss of consciousness. They include the Tonic Clonic seizure where the person falls down, and their body stiffens and shakes; the Atonic seizure where the body goes floppy rather than stiff; the Absence seizure, which usually shows itself in a blank stare lasting a few seconds; the Myoclonic seizure, which is very brief and involves a muscle jerk. |
Useful national contacts |
Epilepsy Action Epilepsy Society Helpline: 01494 601400 ![]() David Lewis Centre For Epilepsy Tel. 01565 640000 ![]() Seizure Alert Dogs ![]() Mersey Regional Epilepsy Association SUDEP Action (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) |
Children & young people |
Young Epilepsy Epilepsy Action: Just for kids The Daisy Garland - charity offering help and support for children wirh drug-resistant epilepsy |
Online resources |
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and epilepsy (Epilepsy Action) Wearing a face mask with epilepsy (Epilepsy Society) Guide to Epilepsy and PIP (The Brain Charity) What to do when someone has a seizure (Epilepsy Action) 6 absence seizures caught on camera, on YouTube EpSMon - award-winning self-monitoring App designed for adults who experience seizure Free e-learning resources from Epilepsy Action ![]() You may be entitled to free or discounted travel if your seizures mean you can’t have a driving licence (Epilepsy Society) EasyRead: Epilepsy (EasyHealth)
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News and events |
26th March 2021 is Purple Day for Epilepsy Nikkita Otu has severe epilepsy. Sign the petition to help Nikkita get the care he needs (2019) "Husband programmes smartwatch to detect wife's seizures" (Epilepsy Society, January 2016) |
Our resources | ![]() The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Epilepsy and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read What's up with Wendy? MediKidz explain epilepsy. |