Epilepsy and Seizures
Electroencephalogram (EEG) showing a petit mal seizure
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent aberrent electrical discharges in the brain which produce seizures. During the seizure, the brain functions are disturbed. Some seizures cause convulsions of the entire body, while others may only result in a few seconds of altered consciousness, or jerking of only one part of the body. Most cases of epilepsy can be successfully treated. Sometimes a person can have just a single seizure without having epilepsy.
Useful Epilepsy Web Sites
Books
We have looked at these books and recommend them as useful sources of information. Links are included to the Amazon website where they also can often be obtained used at a very nominal price.
- Epilepsy: Patient and Family Guide
, by Orrin Devinsky, MD.
- Epilepsy Explained: A Book for People Who Want to Know More
, by Markus Reuber, MD, Christian E. Elger, MD, Steven C. Schachter, MD and Ulrich Altrup, MD.
- Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life (American Academy of Neurology)
, by Ilo E. Leppik, MD.