- It is a brain disorder characterized by repeated seizuers ('fits') that may take several forms, ranging from the shortest lapse of attention to sever and frequent convulsions.
- Common manifestations include loss of awareness/ consciousness, disturbances of movement, sensation including vision, hearing, taste, autonomic function, mood and mental functions.
- Seizures may vary from the briefest lapse of attention or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions to a state of frequent recurrent attacks without recovery of consiousness between each episode known as status epilepticus.
- Attacks may vary in frequency, from less than one per year to serveral per day.