What is a seizure and what is epilepsy
A seizure is a single event characterized by the abnormal excessive synchronized firing of cortical neurons that usually results in altered sensation, perception, or motor activity.
Between 2% and 4% of the population will have a seizure at some point in their lives.
Epilepsy is defined as one or more of the following:
(1) at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring >24 hours apart;
(2) one unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures; or (3) diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.
Between 0.5% and 1% of the population currently has epilepsy, and the lifetime risk of epilepsy is about 1% to 2%.
