Definitions for Epilepsy
ˈɛp əˌlɛp siepilep·sy

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. epilepsynoun

   a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. epilepsynoun

   A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.

2. Etymology: Since 16th century; from epilepsie, from epilepsia, from ἐπιληψία, from ἐπιλαμβάνω, from ἐπί + λαμβάνω.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. EPILEPSYnoun

   An convulsion, or convulsive motion of the whole body, or of some of its parts, with a loss of sense. A convulsive motion happens when the blood, or nervous fluid, runs into any parts with so great violence, that the mind cannot restrain them from attraction. John Quincy

   Etymology: ἐϖίληψις.

   My lord is fell into an epilepsy:
   This is the second fit. William Shakespeare, Othello.

   Melancholy distempers are deduced from spirits drawn from that cacochymia; the phrenitis from cholerick spirits, and the epilepsy from fumes. John Floyer, on the Humours.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epilepsy

   Epilepsy is a group of non-communicable neurological disorders characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. An epileptic seizure is the clinical manifestation of an abnormal, excessive, purposeless and synchronized electrical discharge in the brain cells called neurons. The International League against Epilepsy has; in 2005 and again in 2014 published guidelines about the definition of epilepsy for operational purposes. In the past epilepsy was defined as 2 or more unprovoked seizures- with the understanding that this was an enduring condition which would repeat itself. The new definition includes the occurrence two or more seizures separated by 24 hours, or of a single seizure with a chance at recurrence after 2 seizures of greater than 60% in the next 10 years associated with the neurobiologic, cognitive, psychological and social repercussions of this condition( ILAE Fisher et al 2014, 2005) Epileptic seizures can vary from brief and nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. These episodes can result in physical injuries, either directly such as broken bones or through causing accidents. In epilepsy, seizures tend to recur and may have no immediate underlying cause. Isolated seizures that are provoked by a specific cause such as poisoning are not deemed to represent epilepsy. People with epilepsy may be treated differently in various areas of the world and experience varying degrees of social stigma due to the alarming nature of their symptoms. The underlying mechanism of epileptic seizures is excessive and abnormal neuronal activity in the cortex of the brain which can be observed in the electroencephalogram (EEG) of an individual. The reason this occurs in most cases of epilepsy is unknown (idiopathic); some cases occur as the result of brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, infections of the brain, or birth defects through a process known as epileptogenesis. Known genetic mutations are directly linked to a small proportion of cases. The diagnosis involves ruling out other conditions that might cause similar symptoms, such as fainting, and determining if another cause of seizures is present, such as alcohol withdrawal or electrolyte problems. This may be partly done by imaging the brain and performing blood tests. Epilepsy can often be confirmed with an EEG, but a normal test does not rule out the condition.Epilepsy that occurs as a result of other issues may be preventable. Seizures are controllable with medication in about 69% of cases; inexpensive anti-seizure medications are often available. In those whose seizures do not respond to medication; surgery, neurostimulation or dietary changes may then be considered. Not all cases of epilepsy are lifelong, and many people improve to the point that treatment is no longer needed.As of 2020, about 50 million people have epilepsy. Nearly 80% of cases occur in the developing world. In 2015, it resulted in 125,000 deaths, an increase from 112,000 in 1990. Epilepsy is more common in older people. In the developed world, onset of new cases occurs most frequently in babies and the elderly. In the developing world, onset is more common in older children and young adults due to differences in the frequency of the underlying causes. About 5–10% of people will have an unprovoked seizure by the age of 80, with the chance of experiencing a second seizure rising to between 40% and 50%. In many areas of the world, those with epilepsy either have restrictions placed on their ability to drive or are not permitted to drive until they are free of seizures for a specific length of time. The word epilepsy is from Ancient Greek ἐπιλαμβάνειν, "to seize, possess, or afflict".

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epilepsynoun

   the "falling sickness," so called because the patient falls suddenly to the ground; a disease characterized by paroxysms (or fits) occurring at interval and attended by sudden loss of consciousness, and convulsive motions of the muscles

2. Etymology: [L. epilepsia, Gr. a seizure, the falling sickness, fr. to take besides, seize, attack; 'epi` upon, besides + to take: cf. F. pilepsie. Cf. Catalepsy.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epilepsy

   Epilepsy is a common and diverse set of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. Some definitions of epilepsy require that seizures be recurrent and unprovoked, but others require only a single seizure combined with brain alterations which increase the chance of future seizures. In many cases a cause cannot be identified; however, factors that are associated include brain trauma, strokes, brain cancer, and drug and alcohol misuse among others. Epileptic seizures result from abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain. About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly 80% of epilepsy occurs in developing countries. Epilepsy becomes more common as people age. Onset of new cases occurs most frequently in infants and the elderly. As a consequence of brain surgery, epileptic seizures may occur in recovering patients. Epilepsy is usually controlled, but not cured, with medication. However, more than 30% of people with epilepsy do not have seizure control even with the best available medications. Surgery may be considered in difficult cases. Not all epilepsy syndromes are lifelong – some forms are confined to particular stages of childhood. Epilepsy should not be understood as a single disorder, but rather as syndromic with vastly divergent symptoms, all involving episodic abnormal electrical activity in the brain and numerous seizures.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epilepsy

   ep′i-lep-si, n. a chronic functional disease of the nervous system, manifested by recurring attacks of sudden insensibility or impairment of consciousness, commonly accompanied by peculiar convulsive seizures.—n. Epilep′tic, an epileptic patient.—adjs. Epilep′tic, -al; Epilep′toid. [Gr. epilepsia—epi, upon, lambanein, lēpsesthai, to seize.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epilepsy

   a violent nervous affection, manifesting itself usually in sudden convulsive seizures and unconsciousness, followed by temporary stoppage of the breath and rigidity of the body, popularly known as "falling sickness"; origin as yet undecided; attributed by the ancients to demoniacal possession.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epilepsy

   A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313)

Matched Categories

1. • Brain Disorder

How to pronounce Epilepsy?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Epilepsy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Epilepsy in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Epilepsy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of Epilepsy in a Sentence

1. David Nutt:

   It would also help scientists to develop new and more effective cannabinoid-based medicines for a range of other conditions. there will be many other people in the UK with severe epilepsy who are likely to benefit from medical cannabis and provision must be made to stop them suffering brain damage and death from cannabis-treatable seizures.

2. Cameron Heron:

   Carmen Heron, who is speaking out on behalf of her daughter, who is now legally deaf because of SJS, said.I get emotional even thinking about it. Im just so excited for her. She is still dealing with the aftermath of SJS now, and I do worry and think, Is this the life shes going to have ? But now, its not shell have a new life as a mum. For Heron, who was an apprentice chef at a top Sydney restaurant when she became ill, but can no longer work, life changed forever in early 2014, when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Right away, she was placed on two drugs commonly prescribed to help manage seizures levetiracetam, more commonly known as Keppra, and lamotrigine, sold under the brand name Lamictal. It took three weeks in the hospital before her condition started improving, although she still deals with lasting hearing loss and PTSD from the ordeal. ( PA Real Life) While serious side effects are extremely rare, both drugs carry the risk of triggering a severe cutaneous adverse reaction - such as SJS according to The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence( NICE). At first, Heron appeared to be responding well to medication, until a pinprick-like rash appeared in May. I knew right away that it was an allergic reaction, and so I took her to the doctor and asked them to change the medication she was on.

3. Alan Faneca:

   Instinctively I knew I was not going to allow anything to prevent me from fulfilling my dream, epilepsy is part of me, but that does not define me. We are in charge of our destiny. Woodson, who is from Ohio — though Alan Faneca went to Michigan — began by singing praise for Alan Faneca mother, who presented Alan Faneca.

4. Peter Hotez:

   So many of these neglected tropical diseases are not acute infections like ... the flu or common cold, many are chronic, debilitating conditions that mimic non-communicable diseases ... If somebody has epilepsy, they don't think of cysticercosis ... If a child tests poorly in school, the pediatrician or nurse practitioner won't think of toxocariasis.

5. Julia Beck:

   I lived with epilepsy in my 20s and had two children in my 30s while continuing treatment for epilepsy.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Epilepsy
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Epilepsy
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Epilepsy
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsy
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Epilepsy
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Epilepsy
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Epilepsy
8. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Epilepsy