Learn about Epilepsy

A person who has epilepsy feels just as healthy as everyone else most of the time. But sometimes they may have a seizure. This page is all about seizures.

If you or someone you know has epilepsy, it’s good to find out as much as you can about it.

You will know how seizures happen.

You will know how medicine works and why you have to take it every day.

You will know how to help if someone has a seizure.

Then you can tell other people who might want to know.

If there is something on the page that you don’t understand, ask your mum or dad to explain it to you.

All About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurring seizures.

Seizures begin in the network of cells in your brain.

These cells are very, very small, but they make everything in your brain and body work.

They do it by sending little signals to each other, faster than you can imagine.

The signals flash all over your body so you can run and jump and do all the things you do every minute of every day.

Most of the time your brain cells work just the way they’re supposed to. You don’t have to think about them. They just keep doing what they’re supposed to do.

But if you have epilepsy it means that sometimes, for a very short time, they don’t work quite the way they should.

For just a few seconds, or a minute or two, some of your brain cells send mixed–up signals.
They stop the other cells from working properly, and your body gets mixed-up messages.

All of the changes in the things you feel or do are called seizures.

When you first start to have seizures you have to go to the doctor. The doctor needs to have a description of the seizure, then the doctor may also need to do some tests. They are usually done in hospital by taking pictures of the brain to find out why the seizures are occurring. (These tests can be called an EEG, a CT Scan or a MRI). Many times the doctor has no idea why some–one is having seizures.

The doctor will give you medicine to take everyday to control your epilepsy. He will tell you and your mum how may times a day you have to take it. You have to keep taking it everyday because you want to stop seizures from happening.

There are three common types of seizures:

Tonic-Clonic Seizure
This type of seizure could make you fall down, your body could go stiff, and then shake all over for a minute or two.

Absence Seizure
It may look like you are staring or daydreaming. If someone talks you may not answer them, but when the seizure is over, you go right on doing what you were doing before. This type of seizure may happen several times a day.

Complex Partial Seizure
This type of seizure can look like you are walking around and don’t know where you are, pull at your clothing, smack your lips together, or make strange arm or leg movements.

How You Can Help If Someone Has A Tonic Clonic Seizure

Move any harmful objects out of the way that could hurt them
Tell the other children not to be scared
Send someone to find a grown-up
Place a jacket or jumper under the person’s head
As soon as possible after the seizure has stopped, roll the person onto their side to assist breathing.
When the seizure is over the person may be confused. Stay with them and be their friend.

Things to Know about Epilepsy

If you have epilepsy, remember that it is just a part of your life – a few seconds or a few minutes out of all the interesting things you see and do.
Epilepsy is not catching. You cannot get it from someone else. And no one else can get it from you.
Living a normal, active life, playing and having a good time will not make you have more seizures.

This information provided by the Epilepsy Association of South Australia Inc on the Internet is designed to provide basic information about epilepsy. It is not intended, nor does it constitute medical or other professional advice. Diagnosis and advice on medicother asal care or sessments should be sought from a medical practitioner or suitably qualified professional.

"Illustrations on this page are from the children's book "Because You Are My Friend" available from Epilepsy New Zealand at NZ$3.00, plus p&h - www.epilepsy.org.nz"