Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have recurring seizures. The seizures happen when clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain send out the wrong signals. People may have strange sensations and emotions or behave strangely. They may have violent muscle spasms or lose consciousness.
Epilepsy has many possible causes, including illness, brain injury and abnormal brain development. In many cases, the cause is unknown.
Doctors use brain scans and other tests to diagnose epilepsy. It is important to start treatment right away. There is no cure for epilepsy, but medicines can control seizures for most people. When medicines are not working well, surgery or implanted devices such as vagus nerve stimulators may help. Special diets can help some children with epilepsy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Epilepsy(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/brain/disorders/214.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/brain/disorders/214.printerview.html
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Epilepsy
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/epilepsy.htm
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Seizures and Epilepsy
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsyspanish/htm/index.htm
- Epilepsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/epilepsy/DS00342/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Frequently Asked Questions about Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/faq.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/fpr.cfm
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Seizures and Epilepsy: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/detail_epilepsy.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/crisis_epilepticas.htm
- Pregnant Women With Epilepsy Should Avoid Valproate(04/27/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83444.html
- Epilepsy Drug Impairs Baby's Intelligence(04/15/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82954.html
- Head Injury While Young Ups Epilepsy Risk(02/23/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80929.html
- Brain Imaging(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/newlydiagnosed/qstreatment/qstrimaging.cfm
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Computed Tomography (CT) -- Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headct
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headct
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Functional MR Imaging (fMRI) -- Brain(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=fmribrain
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=fmribrain
- Importance of EEG Tests(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/newlydiagnosed/qstreatment/qstreeg.cfm
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Nonepileptic Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/adults/women/Professional/nonepileptic.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/lavida/adultos/mujeres/noepilepticos.cfm
- Spectrum of Severity in Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/severity.cfm
- Corpus Callosotomy(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/corpus_callostomy/hic_corpus_callostomy.aspx
- Epilepsy Surgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://mayoclinic.com/print/epilepsy-surgery/MY00133/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Extratemporal Cortical Resection(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/epilepsy/hic_extratemporal_cortical_resection.aspx
- First Aid for Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/firstaid/
- General Information about Medications for Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/medications/
- General Information about Surgery(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/surgery/
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JAMA Patient Page: Epilepsy Surgery(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/300/21/2568.pdf
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Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/whatisneurosurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/whatisneurosurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/vns/
- Wada Test(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/wada_test/hic_the_wada_test.aspx
- Complementary Treatment(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/alternative/
- Ketogenic Diet(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/diet/
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Dravet Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dravet_syndrome/dravet_syndrome.htm
- Epilepsy Syndromes(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/syndromes/index.cfm
- Generalized Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/genConvulsive/
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Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lennoxgastautsyndrome/lennoxgastautsyndrome.htm
- Partial Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/partialSeizures/
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Driving and You (Epilepsy)(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Social/driving/drivingu.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/social/conduccion/
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Epilepsy and Sexual Relations(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/wellness/dating/weisex.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/lavida/adultos/sexuales.cfm
- Epileptic Vertigo(American Hearing Research Foundation) - http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/central/epileptic_vertigo.html
- Know the Difference: Resources for African-Americans with Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/knowthedifference/index.html
- Living with Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/newlydiagnosed/qsliving/index.cfm
- Managing Status Epilepticus(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/qsprstatus.cfm
- Social Aspects of Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Social/
- Your Appointment(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/takingstock/ts2apptprep.cfm
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Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/whatisneurosurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/whatisneurosurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
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Seizures and Epilepsy(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsyspanish/htm/index.htm
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If I Had - Uncontrolled Epilepsy(Insidermedicine) - http://www.insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_Uncontrolled_Epilepsy_Dr_David_Clarke_MDCM_PhD_FRCSC_DABNS_FACS_Dalhousie_University_3145.aspx?p=mdlnp
- Resective Surgery for Refractory Epilepsy(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=239
- Temporal Lobe Resection to Control Epilepsy(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=233
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS Therapy)(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=121
- Epilepsy and the Brain(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/science/
- Seizure Mechanisms and Threshold(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/science/mechanisms.cfm
- Finding Emergency Medication Assistance(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Legal/financialassistance/emmedical.cfm
- General Information about Financial Planning for Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Social/financial/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Epilepsy(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Epilepsy%22
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Genetics and Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/women/pregnancy/weigenetics.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/lavida/adultos/mujeres/genetica.cfm
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Genetics Home Reference: Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=autosomaldominantnocturnalfrontallobeepilepsy
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Genetics Home Reference: Autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=autosomaldominantpartialepilepsywithauditoryfeatures
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Genetics Home Reference: Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent epilepsy(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pyridoxal5phosphatedependentepilepsy
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Genetics Home Reference: Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pyridoxinedependentepilepsy
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Genetics Home Reference: Unverricht-Lundborg disease(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=unverrichtlundborgdisease
- Antiepileptic Drug and Bone Health(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/70/18/e71
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Curing Epilepsy: The Promise of Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/epilepsy_research.htm
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Epilepsy(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF - http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Epilepsy.pdf
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Tuberous Sclerosis Moves toward Drug Therapy, Offers Clues to Epilepsy and Autism(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_rapamycin_tsc_mice.htm
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Schizophrenia and epilepsy: is there a shared susceptibility? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19367784&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Diagnostic value of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies in women with new-onset... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19364930&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Emerging concepts in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and epileptogenesis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19364928&tool=MedlinePlus
- Epilepsy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(epilepsy[majr]+NOT+(seizures[mh]+OR+seizures,febrile[mh]))+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Epilepsy Terms Glossary(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/glossary.cfm
- Finding a Physician Who Specializes in Epilepsy Treatment(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/drsearch.cfm
- Epilepsy Foundation - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Epilepsy USA(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/magazine/Issue1-2009/index.cfm
- Driver Licensing(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/advocacy/govaff/pp5.cfm
- General Information about Insurance(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Legal/insurance/
- General Information about Legal Aspects of Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/advocacy/legalaspects.cfm
- Epilepsy and Seizure Statistics(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/statistics.cfm
- Children and Medicine(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/medications/medschildren.cfm
- Epilepsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/epilepsy.html
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Epilepsy(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities) - http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Specific/Pages/Epilepsy.aspx
Also available in Spanish http://www.nichcy.org/Documents/Spanish%20pubs/FS6SP.pdf
- Epilepsy Foundation Kid's Club(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/kidsclub/nonflash/home/index.html
- For Parents: Introduction to Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/index.cfm
- General Information about Epilepsy in Children(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/children/
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Infantile Spasms(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/infantilespasms/infantilespasms.htm
- Your Child at School(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/qsprschool.cfm
- Epilepsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/epilepsy.html
- General Information about Teenagers with Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/adolescents/
- Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Healthy Choices for a Healthy Baby(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pregnancy/PR00123/METHOD=print
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Women and Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/adults/women/
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/lavida/adultos/mujeres/
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Epilepsy in the Elderly(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/elderly/
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/lavida/ancianos/
- Seizures - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seizures.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Epilepsy is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/