Epilepsy information
Understanding epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common condition of the brain that causes repeated seizures. It is not contagious and it is not a curse. According to the World Health Organization, up to 70% of people with epilepsy could live without seizures if properly diagnosed and treated.
What is epilepsy?
The brain works using tiny electrical signals. A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of unusual electrical activity in the brain. It can briefly change how a person moves, feels, behaves or is aware of what is around them.
A person is usually diagnosed with epilepsy when they have had two or more seizures that were not caused by something else, such as a high fever or low blood sugar. Only a qualified health worker can make this diagnosis.
Epilepsy can affect anyone, at any age. Known causes include brain injury at birth, head injuries, infections such as cerebral malaria or meningitis, stroke and genetic factors. For many people, no cause is found.
How seizures can look
Seizures do not all look the same. Some are easy to miss. Common types include:
Tonic-clonic seizures
The person may cry out, fall, stiffen and then jerk. They may lose bladder control. Afterwards they may be confused or sleepy. This is the type most people picture.
Absence seizures
A short blank stare for a few seconds, often mistaken for daydreaming. They are more common in children and can happen many times a day.
Focal seizures
They start in one part of the brain. The person may notice a strange feeling, smell or taste, twitching in one part of the body, or may seem confused and not respond normally.
Myoclonic and atonic seizures
Sudden brief jerks of the arms or legs, or a sudden loss of muscle strength that can make the person drop or fall.
Many other things can cause fainting, jerking or staring. If you are worried about symptoms, see a qualified health worker for an assessment.
Myths and facts
Wrong beliefs about epilepsy cause stigma and can stop people getting care.
Myth
“Epilepsy is contagious — you can catch it from saliva or by touching someone during a seizure.”
Fact
Epilepsy cannot be passed from person to person. It is safe to help and comfort someone having a seizure.
Myth
“Epilepsy is caused by a curse, witchcraft or evil spirits.”
Fact
Epilepsy is a medical condition of the brain. It can be managed with proper medical care.
Myth
“You must put a spoon or cloth in their mouth so they don’t swallow their tongue.”
Fact
Never put anything in the person’s mouth. A person cannot swallow their tongue. Objects can break teeth, cause choking or block breathing.
Myth
“People with epilepsy cannot go to school, work, marry or have a family.”
Fact
With the right care and support, people with epilepsy study, work, marry, raise families and lead full lives.
Myth
“Epilepsy is a mental illness.”
Fact
Epilepsy is a neurological condition — it affects the brain’s electrical activity. It is not a mental illness, although stigma can affect a person’s wellbeing.
Seizure first aid
Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes. Your job is to keep the person safe until the seizure ends and they recover.
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Stay calm and time it
Stay with the person. Note the time the seizure starts.
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Protect them from injury
Move hard or sharp objects away. Put something soft under their head. Loosen anything tight around the neck.
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Turn them on their side
When the jerking stops, gently roll them onto their side to help keep their airway clear.
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Stay until they recover
Speak calmly and stay with them until they are fully awake. Tell them what happened.
Do NOT
- Do not put anything in their mouth — no spoons, cloth or fingers.
- Do not hold them down or try to stop their movements.
- Do not give food, water or medicine until they are fully awake.
Call 999 or 112, or go to the nearest hospital, if:
- The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
- Another seizure starts before the person has recovered from the first one.
- The person has difficulty breathing, or does not wake up after the seizure stops.
- The person is injured, the seizure happened in water, or the person is pregnant.
- It is the person’s first seizure, or you are not sure.
Guidance for families, schools and communities
For families and caregivers
- Keep a simple seizure diary: date, time, how long it lasted and what happened.
- Go with your family member to clinic appointments and keep their medicines safe and on time.
- Talk openly about epilepsy at home. It helps the person feel supported, not ashamed.
- Learn seizure first aid and teach it to others who spend time with your family member.
For schools and teachers
- Make sure teachers know seizure first aid and know which learners may have seizures.
- Agree a simple seizure plan with the family, with emergency contacts.
- Include learners with epilepsy fully in lessons, games and trips, with sensible safety steps.
- Stop teasing and bullying. Teach classmates that epilepsy is not contagious.
For communities and workplaces
- Challenge myths when you hear them. Epilepsy is a medical condition, not a curse.
- Welcome people with epilepsy at work, in church, at the market and in community life.
- Encourage anyone with seizures, or unexplained symptoms, to visit a health facility.
- Respect privacy: a person’s health is theirs to share.
Need help finding care?
This medical information is awaiting review by a qualified clinician. It is general information only.