Abstract
This chapter presents the classification, epidemiology, age, seizure types, mortality, pathophysiology, risks, etiology, investigations, differential diagnosis, treatment/management and special populations for epilepsy. The diagnosis of epilepsy is established after the occurrence of at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring at least 24 hours from each other, although a diagnosis of epilepsy after a first seizure can be made if the evaluation demonstrates the presence of risk factors associated with recurrent seizures (e.g., epileptiform activity in electrographic [EEG] recordings or an old stroke on brain magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). The treatment of an initial unprovoked epileptic seizure has been the source of continuous debate among epileptologists. The achievement of seizure remission of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) varies according to the epileptic syndrome, age of onset of the seizure disorder, and cause of epilepsy. Women with epilepsy have a lower sexual drive and lower birth rate than women in the general population.