Epilepsy
Background
Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures originating in the brain as a result of excessive or disordered discharge of brain cells.
Seizures are divided into two categories:
- In the generalised seizures both hemispheres of the brain are involved and consciousness is lost. The seizures include major convulsive episodes with jerking of all limbs and unconsciousness (tonic clonic seizures); seizures when the body goes stiff (tonic) or floppy (atonic); jerks of the limbs (myoclonic jerks) and momentary lapses of consciousness (absences).
- In partial (or focal) seizures the disturbance of brain activity starts in, or involves, a specific part of the brain. The nature of such seizures depends upon the area of the brain involved. Partial seizures may be simple or complex. Consciousness is not lost in a simple partial seizure, but is impaired in a complex partial seizure.
What are the causes? 
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