In some communities, the term is still encircled by a great deal of misconceptions and stigma, despite the long history of the disease and the development of treatments for its cure. However, the disease can be explained scientifically. A factual approach to the topic can aid comprehension, help distinguish symptoms from falsehoods, and evaluate the impact of disease on various aspects of life.
The definition of
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizure episodes. A diagnosis requires the occurrence of at least two unprovoked seizures separated by a minimum of twenty-four hours.
Prevalence
Epilepsy is a relatively common neurological disorder. It affects individuals regardless of age, gender, geographic location, or race. Nonetheless, certain trends in prevalence are observed in cases with increased exposure to risk factors. Due to exposure to certain precipitating factors, the male population is more at risk based on gender. In a number of low-socioeconomic groups, female epilepsy cases may be concealed for cultural reasons, adding ambiguity to statistical analysis. Epilepsy prevalence among infants and the elderly has been studied. This can also be explained by certain medical risk factors that disproportionately affect children and adolescents compared to adults. As a result of recent advances in addressing prenatal complications, infant epilepsy rates have decreased significantly. Epilepsy is more prevalent in low- to middle-income groups and, as a result, in developing and underdeveloped nations. In these nations, the prevalence is also confounded by undiagnosed cases and untreated diagnosed cases. Therefore, the likelihood of disease remission is very high.