epilepsy is a common condition that causes repeated seizures. the seizures are caused by bursts of electrical activity in the brain that are not normal. seizures may cause problems with muscle control movement speech vision or awareness. they usually don't last very long but they can be scary. the good news is that treatment usually works to control and reduce seizures. epilepsy is not a type of mental illness or intellectual disability. it generally does not affect how well you think or learn. you can't catch epilepsy from someone else (like a cold) and they can't catch it from you. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what is epilepsy?