Understanding Epilepsy.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. A seizure is a sudden surge of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that temporarily disrupts normal brain function. Epilepsy is diagnosed when a person has had two or more unprovoked seizures, or one seizure with a high risk of recurrence.

Epilepsy is not a sentence — it is a condition. With the right care, 7 in 10 people become completely seizure-free.

Epilepsy is one of the world's most common neurological disorders. Approximately 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy — and an estimated 220,000+ people in Sri Lanka. It affects people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. It is not a mental illness, not contagious, and not caused by supernatural forces.

The good news: approximately 70% of people with epilepsy can become seizure-free with appropriate antiepileptic medication. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are key.