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A seizure disorder includes any condition in which there are repeated episodes of seizures of any type. Epilepsy is a term used when the seizure disorder has no identifiable cause, such as brain disease. A seizure disorder affects about 0.5% of the population. 1.5-5.0% of the population may have a seizure in their lifetime. It can affect people of any age.

Information in the brain is transmitted from nerve cell to nerve cell by an electrochemical process. This process can be detected as electrical activity by an electroencephalograph (EEG). Seizures are associated with abnormal patterns of electrical activity.

The cause of the seizure correlates, to some extent, with the age of onset. In some people, seizures may be triggered by hormone changes such as pregnancy or menstruation. They may also be triggered by illness or sensory stimuli such as lights, sounds, and touch. In many cases, no trigger is found for the seizures.

Given sufficient circumstances, any person will have a seizure. The amount of stimulation required to cause a seizure is called the "seizure threshold." Many people with epilepsy are considered to have a low seizure threshold.

Some of the more common causes of seizures include:

Idiopathic (no identifiable cause)
- usually begin between ages 5 to 20
- can occur at any age
- no other neurologic abnormalities present
- often a family history of epilepsy or seizures
Developmental or genetic conditions present at birth, or injuries near birth-- in this case, the seizures usually begin in infancy or early childhood
Metabolic abnormalities
- may affect any age
- diabetes mellitus complications
- electrolyte imbalances
- kidney failure, uremia (toxic accumulation of wastes)
- nutritional deficiencies
- phenylketonuria (PKU)--can rarely cause seizures in infants
- other metabolic diseases such as inborn error of metabolism
- use of or intoxication from alcohol or drugs
- withdrawal from alcohol
- withdrawal from drugs
Brain injury
- may affect any age, highest incidence in young adults
- most likely if the brain membranes are damaged
- seizures usually begin within 2 years after the injury
- early seizures (within 2 weeks of injury)--do not necessarily indicate that chronic seizures (epilepsy) will develop
Tumors and brain lesions that occupy space (such as hematomas)
- may affect any age, more common after age 30
- partial (focal) seizures most common initially
- may progress to generalized tonic-clonic seizures
Disorders affecting the blood vessels (stroke, TIA, and so on)
- most common cause of seizures after age 60
Degenerative disorders (senile dementia Alzheimer type, or similar organic brain syndromes)
- mostly affect older people
Infections
- may affect all ages
- may be a reversible cause of seizures
- brain infections (meningitis, encephalitis)
- brain abscess
- acute severe infections of any part of the body
- chronic infections (such as neurosyphilis)
- complications of AIDS or other immune disorders

The type of seizure that occurs varies depending on the location and type of the problem causing the seizure and individual response to the problem.

There are two major types of seizures:

Generalized seizures -- affect all or most of the brain
Partial seizures -- affect only a portion of the brain

Epilepsy typically involves generalized seizures (except in some cases that develop in childhood and have a specific focus). Two major kinds of generalized seizures are tonic-clonic ("grand mal") seizures and petit mal seizures.

Partial seizures include focal seizures (during which the person remains alert but there are abnormal movements or sensations) and partial complex seizures (during which the abnormal movement or sensation is accompanied by changes in consciousness).

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