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The term epilepsy applies to a group of nervous system disorders characterized by recurrent seizures, which are sometimes called convulsions. A seizure occurs when there are abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Although head trauma, strokes, brain tumors, brain infections, and withdrawal from drugs (including alcohol) can cause seizures, the recurrent seizures of epilepsy are usually idiopathic (of unknown cause). The February 4, 2004, issue of JAMA includes an article about treatments for epilepsy.

SEIZURES

• Seizures can affect vision, speech, or movement and can affect only part of the brain (a partial seizure) or the entire brain (a generalized seizure).
  
• Seizures usually last a few seconds to a few minutes and may or may not cause loss of consciousness.
  
• Some people experience an aura, a sensation that they are about to have a seizure.
  
• Seizure activity varies for different persons with epilepsy. Absence seizures (formerly called . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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