Epilepsy

One of the Nation’s Most Common
Disabling Neurological Disorders

Epilepsy is a general term that includes various types of seizures. People with diagnosed epilepsy have had more than one seizure, and they may have had more than one kind of seizure. A seizure happens when abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes an involuntary change in body movement or function, sensation, awareness, or behavior.

Epilepsy and seizures affect about 2.3 million Americans, and result in an estimated annual cost of $12.5 billion in medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production. People of all ages are affected, but particularly the very young and the elderly. About 10% of Americans will experience a seizure, and about 3% will have or will have had a diagnosis of epilepsy by age 80.

Living Well with Epilepsy, the first national conference on public health and epilepsy, convened in September 1997. The conference was cosponsored by CDC, the American Epilepsy Society, the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, and the Epilepsy Foundation. The conference cosponsors sought to

• Assess current knowledge about seizures and epilepsy.
  
  
• Identify critical gaps in scientific knowledge about epilepsy.
  
  
• Consider potential strategies for overcoming barriers to optimal health for people with epilepsy.

Participants collaborated on developing a list of priority epilepsy concerns ranging from researching the evaluation and care of patients having a first seizure to combating stigmatization and reducing disabilities associated with epilepsy. This list of priority concerns was the impetus for developing CDC epilepsy programs directed at improving care, improving communication, self-management, surveillance, and public awareness.

Living Well with Epilepsy (PDF - 262K)
Report of the 1997 National Conference on Public Health and Epilepsy.

Seizures and Epilepsy
A Public Health Priority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Epilepsy-related
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Persons With Epilepsy — Texas, 1998.
MMWR. 2001; 50(02):24-26, 35

Prevalence of self-reported epilepsy — United States, 1986-1990.
MMWR. 1994; 43:810-811.

Hospitalization for Epilepsy — United States, 1988-1992.
MMWR. 1994; 44(43):818-823. 

Related Links
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American Epilepsy Society

Epilepsy Foundation 

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This page last reviewed January 23, 2001

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion