"Epilepsy" is not a psychiatric or mental disease;
it is a physical problem or neurological condition
The term "Epilepsy" derives from the Greek word epilambaneim, which means "catch by surprise" and is not more than a neurological condition as a result of sporadic abnormal functioning from a group of neurons.
The main symptom of epilepsy comes from the seizures. Epileptic seizures or "seizures" as it is usually called are short - seconds or minutes - and usually arise from excess electrical activity in a group of neurons hyper excitable, affecting the person to corporal or cognitive level.
It's origin
Currently there are many reasons that doctors and researchers have associated the cause of epileptic seizures, varying according to the age of the person. Some of them are:
- Genetic problem, brain malformation during pregnancy
- Brain injury during the birth process
- Infections of the brain like meningitis or encephalitis
- Brain tumors
- Head injury as a result of an accident
- Cerebral hemorrhage
The seizures or epileptic crisis can occur and affect the person in many different ways. The common characteristics between seizures are that they tend to be Stereotyped - Sporadic - Unpredictable. In some cases patients with epilepsy often have the feeling or warning before a seizure, this time is called "The Aura".
The Aura is the first symptom prior to a seizure in some cases be easily recognizable and can be associated with similar changes of feeling, sensations, thoughts or behavior, when a seizure occur