Epilepsy can be a terrifying condition to witness, and it can be even more terrifying to experience.
While it is manageable with medication, epilepsy is not curable.
But the more upsetting part is that some people with epilepsy may not disclose their condition for fear of stigma.
This may be why many people still don’t know much about epilepsy, even now in 2025.
In honour of International Epilepsy Day, it’s time to spread awareness once more about this condition, and shed some light on its symptoms, dangers and many more.
What Is Epilepsy?
In short, epilepsy is a type of brain disorder that causes repeated seizures.
These seizures happen due to sudden bursts of electrical activity, which disrupt the normal function of the brain.
There’s more to epilepsy than just seizures, even if it is the main symptom.
Symptoms actually vary between different kinds of epilepsy (more on that later).
However, some general epilepsy symptoms include: sudden confusion or unresponsiveness, temporary memory loss, unusual sensations (smells, tastes, or déjà vu), and uncontrolled jerking movements (usually the face, arms, or legs).
While epilepsy can develop at any age, it often begins in childhood or later in life.
It’s one of the most common neurological conditions, affecting around 50 million people worldwide.
There are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of epilepsy.
These include family history of seizures, premature birth or low birth weight, serious brain infections in childhood, and prolonged febrile (fever) seizures in early life.
Seizures can vary greatly.
Some people experience momentary lapses in awareness, while others may have convulsions.
The good news is that with the right treatment, many people with epilepsy can live full, healthy lives.
Lesser Known Facts About Epilepsy
Even now, there are still some misconceptions around.
Here are some lesser known facts about epilepsy and seizures that you may not know about:
- Seizures can be subtle: Not all seizures involve convulsions. Some types, like absence seizures, cause brief staring spells that can be mistaken for daydreaming.
- They can have specific triggers: This may include flashing lights, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, or even certain sounds and patterns.
- It’s not always lifelong: Some people outgrow epilepsy, especially if it starts in childhood. Others achieve remission with medication or lifestyle changes.
- Seizures can happen during sleep: Nocturnal epilepsy causes seizures that occur only during sleep, often leading to fatigue and confusion in the morning.
How Many Kinds of Epileptic Seizures Are There?
Contrary to popular belief, not all seizures are like what they typically show in media: with someone collapsing on the floor limbs stiff and foaming at the mouth with their eyes rolled back while their body jerks uncontrollably.
There are over 40 types of seizures that are related to epilepsy.
However, they commonly fall into three categories: focal, generalised and reflex.
Each type of seizure may have different symptoms and side effects, but they all are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Focal Seizures
Focal or partial seizures affect only one part of the brain.
A person experiencing them may stay aware (focal aware seizures) or lose awareness (focal impaired awareness seizures).
In focal aware seizures, a person experiences uncontrolled twitching (face, arm, or leg), tingling or numbness in one area, sudden strange smell or taste, déjà vu or intense fear, and seeing flashing lights.
In focal impaired awareness seizures, sufferers tend to experience blank stares or unresponsiveness, repeating movements (lip-smacking, blinking, hand rubbing), walking aimlessly or doing random activities, and then having no memory of the event afterward.
Generalised Seizures
Generalised seizures affect both sides of the brain and fall into several sub-categories: absence seizures, tonic-clonic, clonic, atonic, and myoclonic.
Here’s the breakdown of each type:
- Tonic-clonic seizures: Also called ‘Grand Mal’, this seizure happens in stages. First the body stiffens (tonic phase) before shaking violently (clonic phase). There may be possible loss of consciousness, tongue biting, foaming at mouth, or loss of bladder control. This is the typical portrayal of seizures and epilepsy you often see in the media.
- Absence seizures: Also called ‘Petit Mal’, symptoms include sudden blank staring spells lasting a few seconds), showing no response to stimuli, before going back to normal, subtle eye blinking or lip-smacking.
- Tonic seizures: Marked by sudden stiffening of muscles (often in the arms, legs, or back). They may fall to the ground if standing.
- Atonic seizures: Also called ‘Drop Attacks’, this seizure is accompanied by sudden loss of muscle control leading to falls or accidents. They only last a few seconds, but can cause serious injuries.
- Clonic seizures: Marked by repeated jerking movements of the face, arms, or legs.
- Myoclonic seizures: Marked by sudden jerks or twitches (like being startled). These are usually brief and do not cause a loss of consciousness.
Reflex Seizures
There is a third category called reflex seizures triggered by specific stimuli that tend to be more focal than generalised.
They are not random like the first two categories of seizure and only appear when the specific triggers are encountered in daily life.
These are seizures that appear due to certain triggers like light, sounds/music, being startled or surprised, seeing certain patterns (like stripes or zigzags) and even from thinking too much.
While it can be managed by medication, reflex seizures are best prevented by avoiding the triggers altogether.
What Causes Epilepsy?
There are various causes for epilepsy and sometimes even the most experienced doctors can have a hard time finding out which one.
In many cases (about 50%), no clear cause is identified, and the condition is labeled idiopathic epilepsy.
The most common causes of epilepsy typically include: genetic factors, birth defects, brain trauma, infections, autoimmune disorders.
Genetics
Genetic factors seem to be the most common cause of epilepsy.
Over 500 genes have been linked to epilepsy, including SCN1A, SCN2A, and PCDH19.
If you have a family history of epilepsy, there’s a high chance that you will get it too.
Even if you don’t, your children or grandchildren might be born with the condition.
That said, generalised epilepsies, usually the kind that appears in early childhood (also called childhood absence epilepsy), often have a stronger genetic link.
This type of epilepsy manifests in children between the ages of 4 to 10 years old.
Birth Defects
The second reason is usually structural or birth-related causes including certain birth defects like brain malformations.
This is typically more common in focal cortical dysplasia or polymicrogyria which causes abnormal brain folding.
Other birth-related causes include perinatal brain damage which can be the result of oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) during birth or brain injury at birth.
Cerebral palsy is another one, which is caused by an injury to a child’s brain before, during or after childbirth.
Speaking on injuries, the third most common cause of epilepsy is injuries more specifically, traumatic brain injury including sport injuries, falls and car accidents.
In cases of traumatic brain injury, epileptic symptoms tend to develop years after an injury.
Infections and Diseases
Certain neuroinfections and medical conditions can cause epilepsy. Examples include meningitis and encephalitis.
However, epilepsy caused by these conditions are curable or temporary.
Other infections like neurocysticercosis, which is a parasitic brain infection, and brain abscesses can cause lifelong epilepsy if caught too late due to permanent scars in the brain.
Other conditions and diseases that can cause epilepsy include:
- Stroke: One of the leading causes of epilepsy in older adults.
- Brain tumors: Can trigger seizures, especially in adults.
- Autoimmune epilepsy: The immune system attacks brain cells, causing seizures (e.g., anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis).
- Metabolic disorders: Some rare metabolic conditions (like mitochondrial diseases) disrupt brain function, leading to seizures.
What to Do If Someone Has a Seizure
You may have only seen seizures and epileptic fits on television or film. They can appear quite unsettling.
But have you ever wondered what it is like to see one in real life?
Your first instinct is probably to panic or start calling 999.
However, it’s important to remember to keep calm, especially for the sake of the person having the seizure.
Just in case you ever find yourself alone with someone who is having a seizure, take these seizure first aid instructions into consideration:
- Stay calm: Do not go and try to find help first. You will need to be present to monitor their episode.
- Prevent injury: Move nearby objects that could cause harm. place a soft item, like a jacket, under their head to prevent head injury.
- Positioning: If the person is lying down, gently turn them onto their side. This position, known as the recovery position, helps keep the airway clear and prevents choking.
- Do not restrain movements: Avoid holding the person down or trying to stop their movements, as this can lead to injuries.
- Avoid placing objects in the mouth: Do not insert any objects into the person’s mouth; this could cause dental damage or choking.
- Time the seizure: Monitor the duration of the seizure. If it lasts longer than 5 minutes, or if multiple seizures occur without full recovery between them, seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
- Post-care: Once the seizure subsides, ensure the person is breathing normally. Stay with them until they are fully alert. Offer reassurance as they regain awareness, as they may feel disoriented or confused.
Epilepsy in Malaysia
Studies show that epilepsy is a lot less common in Malaysian than the U.S. Only 7.8 per 1,000 individuals have it in their lifetime.
Research from the University Malaya Medical Centre reported that around 867 out of 100,000 people die from epilepsy each year.
This shows that the condition carries a 1.6 times higher risk of death compared to the general population.
Notably, younger age groups (15 to 29 years) exhibited higher death rates especially those who were males, of Indian ethnicity, and those with focal epilepsy or uncontrolled seizures.
Epilepsy in Pregnancy
For women with epilepsy, pregnancy comes with extra considerations.
Hormonal changes can affect how the body processes anti-seizure medications (ASMs), sometimes leading to more frequent seizures.
Some medications, like lamotrigine, may require dosage adjustments because their levels naturally drop during pregnancy.
There’s also the question of medication safety for the baby.
Some ASMs carry a risk of birth defects or developmental delays, depending on the type and dosage.
However, stopping medication completely can be dangerous, as uncontrolled seizures pose risks to both mother and baby.
That’s why planning with a healthcare provider is key to ensuring a safe pregnancy.
Epilepsy in Babies
Seeing a baby have a seizure can be a terrifying experience for any parent.
Neonatal seizures, which occur within the first month of life, can be subtle – sometimes just brief eye movements or unusual jerking.
In many cases, these seizures are symptoms of an underlying brain condition rather than epilepsy itself.
Doctors focus on identifying the cause as quickly as possible because early treatment can make a big difference in long-term development.
Medications are carefully chosen since a newborn’s body processes drugs differently than an older child’s. Continuous monitoring helps ensure that treatment is both effective and safe.
Epilepsy in Children
Epilepsy in children can range from mild forms that they outgrow to more severe types that require lifelong management.
Some children may experience seizures that happen only during sleep, while others might have them throughout the day, possibly affecting school and daily activities.
Beyond the physical symptoms, epilepsy can impact a child’s learning and social life.
Many children with epilepsy face challenges with memory, attention or behaviour.
That’s why it’s so important to have a support system that includes doctors, teachers, and family members working together to provide the right care and encouragement.
Latest Breakthroughs in Epilepsy Treatment
Exciting new treatments are offering hope for people with epilepsy, especially those who don’t respond well to medication.
New anti-seizure drugs are being developed to target specific brain pathways, making them more effective with fewer side effects.
Meanwhile, advanced therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation and responsive neurostimulation are providing alternative options for drug-resistant epilepsy
There’s also growing interest in personalised medicine, where doctors use genetic testing to tailor treatments based on an individual’s unique brain chemistry.
As research progresses, the future looks bright for better seizure control and improved quality of life for those living with epilepsy.
Tackling Epilepsy One Day at a Time
Epilepsy is a condition that affects millions of people, but with proper treatment and support, most individuals can lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Whether you’re someone or know someone recently diagnosed with epilepsy, a woman managing epilepsy during pregnancy, a parent caring for a child with seizures, or simply looking for the latest updates in treatment, knowledge is key.
By staying informed and working with healthcare professionals, you can help ensure the best possible outcome for yourself or your loved one.
International Epilepsy Day (IED) falls on every second Monday in February since 2015.
This year, it falls on 10 February 2025.
International Epilepsy Day seeks to raise awareness and educate the general public on the facts about epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research.
Let’s all work together to end the stigma.
Share this article with your family and friends and let’s demystify epilepsy, one day at a time.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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