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about epilepsy

CDC FAST FACTS

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes seizures. These seizures are not caused by a temporary underlying medical condition such as a high fever.


Epilepsy can affect people in very different ways. This is because there are many causes and many different kinds of seizures. Some people may have multiple types of seizures or other medical conditions in addition to epilepsy. These factors play a major role in determining both the severity of the person’s condition and the impact it has on his or her life.

 

The way a seizure looks depends on the type of seizure  a person is experiencing. Some seizures can look like staring spells. Other seizures can cause a person to collapse, shake, and become unaware of what’s going on around them.


Epilepsy can be caused by different conditions that affect a person’s brain. Many times the cause is unknown. Some causes include:

  • Stroke.
  • Brain tumor.
  • Traumatic brain injury or head injury.
  • Central nervous system infection.


A person with epilepsy is not contagious and cannot give epilepsy to another person.

Who Has Epilepsy?

Active Epilepsya


In 2015, 1.2% of the total US population had active epilepsy.1


This is about 3.4 million people with epilepsy nationwide: 3 million adults and 470,000 children.1


According to the latest estimates, about 0.6% of children aged 0-17 years have active epilepsy.1,2 


Think of a school with 1,000 students—this means about 6 of them could have epilepsy.

 

References

  1. Zack MM, Kobau R. National and state estimates of the numbers of adults and children with active epilepsy — United States, 2015. MMWR. 2017;66:821–825. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6631a1.
  2. Russ SA, Larson K, Halfon N. A national profile of childhood epilepsy and seizure disorder. Pediatrics 2012;129:256-264. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-1371.

CDC ON EPILEPSY

ABOUT SUDEP - Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

Additional Information

For some people living with epilepsy, the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is an important concern. SUDEP refers to deaths in people with epilepsy that are not caused by injury, drowning, or other known causes.1 

Studies suggest that each year there are about 1.16 cases of SUDEP for every 1,000 people with epilepsy, although estimates vary.2

Most, but not all, cases of SUDEP occur during or immediately after a seizure. The exact cause is not known, but these are possible factors:1,3-5

  • Breathing. A seizure may cause a person to have pauses in breathing (apnea). If these pauses last too long, they can reduce the oxygen in the blood to a life-threatening level. In addition, during a convulsive seizure a person’s airway sometimes may get covered or obstructed, leading to suffocation.
  • Heart rhythm.  A seizure may cause a dangerous heart rhythm or cardiac arrest.
  • Other causes and mixed causes. SUDEP may result from more than one cause or a combination involving both breathing difficulty and abnormal heart rhythm.

 

Risk factors for SUDEP

The main risk factors for SUDEP are:

  • Uncontrolled or frequent seizures1
  • Generalized convulsive (also called tonic-clonic or grand mal) seizures1

Other possible risk factors may include:

  • Seizures that begin at a young age.3
  • Many years of living with epilepsy.3
  • Missed doses of medicine.5
  • Drinking alcohol.1

 

Steps to reduce the risk of SUDEP

If you have epilepsy, ask your doctor to discuss the risk of SUDEP with you.
The first and most important step to reduce your risk of SUDEP is to take your seizure medicine as prescribed.
If you are taking seizure medicine and are still having seizures, discuss options for adjusting the medicine with your doctor. If seizures continue, consider seeing an epilepsy specialist, if you are not already seeing one. 

Other possible steps to reduce the risk of SUDEP may include

  • Avoid seizure triggers, if these are known.2 Read more information about seizure triggers external icon on the Epilepsy Foundation website.
  • Avoid drinking too much alcohol.1
  • Learn how to better control your seizures with epilepsy self-management programs.
  • Get enough sleep.1
  • Train adults in the house in seizure first aid.

 

How do I talk to my healthcare provider about SUDEP?

When you decide to talk with your healthcare provider about SUDEP, you may want to ask

  • What is my risk for SUDEP?
  • What can I do to reduce my risk?
  • What should I do if I forget to take my anti-seizure drug?
  • Should we consider changing my current seizure medicine to better control my seizures?
  • If we decide to make a medicine change, what medicine(s) might provide better seizure control for me?
  • Are there any specific activities I should avoid?
  • What instructions should I give my family and friends if I have a seizure?
  • Who can my family and I contact locally to receive information and training in seizure first aid?

 

References

  1. Devinsky O. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. New Engl J Med. 2011;365:1801-11.
  2. Thurman DJ, Hesdorffer DC, French JA. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Assessing the public health burden. Epilepsia. 2014;55(10):1479-85.
  3. Tomson T, Nashef L, Ryvlin P. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: current knowledge and future directions. Lancet Neurol. 2008;7(11):1021-31.
  4. So EL. What is known about the mechanisms underlying SUDEP? Epilepsia. 2008;49(Suppl. 9):93–98.
  5. Nei M, Hays R. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2010;10(4):319-26.

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