Epilepsy

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Epilepsy is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Convulsions
Seizures

Disorder Subdivisions

Grand Mal Epilepsy
Major Epilepsy
Status Epilepticus
Jacksonian Epilepsy
Focal Epilepsy
Myoclonic Progressice Familial Epilepsy
Unverricht Syndrome
Lundborg-Unverricht Disease
Unverricht-Lundborg-Laf Disease
Petit Mal Epilepsy
Minor Epilepsy
Pyknoepilepsy
Akinetic Seizure
Myoclonic Seizure
Myoclonic Astatic Petit Mal Epilepsy
Petit Mal Variant
Febrile Seizures
Psychomotor Epilepsy
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Psychomotor Equivalent Epilepsy
Psychomotor Convulsion
Epilepsia Procursiva
Abdominal Epilepsy

General Discussion

Epilepsy is a group of disorders of the central nervous system characterized by repeated convulsive (paroxysomal) electrical disturbances in the brain. The major symptoms may include loss of consciousness, convulsions, spasms, sensory confusion and disturbances in the nerves that control involuntary body functions (autonomic nervous system). Episodes of these symptoms are frequently preceded by an "aura." An aura is described as a feeling of uneasiness or sensory discomfort that precedes the onset of a seizure.

Epilepsy may take several different forms including: Grand Mal Epilepsy (Major Epilepsy, Status Epilepticus); Jacksonian Epilepsy (Focal Epilepsy); Myoclonic Progressive Familial Epilepsy (Unverricht Syndrome, Lundborg- Unverricht Disease, Unverricht-Lundborg-Laf Disease); Petit Mal Epilepsy (Minor Epilepsy, Pyknoepilepsy, Akinetic Seizure, Myoclonic seizure); Myoclonic Astatic Petit Mal Epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Petit Mal Variant); Febrile Seizures; and Psychomotor Epilepsy (Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Psychomotor Equivalent, Psychomotor Convulsion with Epilepsia Procursiva, Abdominal Epilepsy).
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Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)997-4488
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

Epilepsy Foundation
8301 Professional Place
Landover, MD 20785
Tel: (301)459-3700
Fax: (301)577-2684
Tel: (800)332-1000
TDD: (800)332-2070
Email: info@efa.org
Internet: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org

PHP - Parents Helping Parents, Inc.
Sobrato Center For Nonprofits-San Jose
1400 Parkmoor Avenue
Suite 100
Sant Jose, CA 95126
USA
Tel: (408)727-5775
Fax: (408)286-1116
Tel: (866)747-4040
TDD: (408)727-5775
Email: info@php.com
Internet: http://www.php.com

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Email: me20t@nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

AED Pregnancy Registry Massachusetts General Hospital
121 Innerbelt Road, Room 220
Somerville, MA 02143
Tel: (617)726-7739
Fax: (617)724-8307
Tel: (888)233-2334
Email: holmes.lewis@mgh.harvard.edu
Internet: http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org

American Epilepsy Society
342 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06117-2507
Tel: (860)586-7505
Fax: (860)586-7550
Email: jamsden@aesnet.org
Internet: http://www.AESnet.org

Epilepsy Canada
2255B Queen St E, Suite 336
Toronto
Ontario, M4E 1G3
Canada
Tel: (877) 734-0873
Fax: (905) 764-1231
Tel: 8777340873
Email: epilepsy@epilepsy.ca
Internet: http://www.epilepsy.ca

Organization For Anti-Convulsant Syndrome
PO Box 772
Pilling
Preston, Intl PR3 6WW
UK
Tel: 01253 790000
Fax: 01253 790000
Email: Janet.oacs@btinternet.com
Internet: http://www.oacs-uk.co.uk/

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

New Horizons Un-Limited, Inc.
811 East Wisconsin Ave
Suite 937
Milwaukee, WI 53202
USA
Tel: (414)299-0124
Fax: (414)347-1977
Email: horizons@new-horizons.org
Internet: http://www.new-horizons.org

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Email: ordr@od.nih.gov
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
5550 Meadowbrook Drive
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3852
Tel: (847)378-0500
Fax: (847)378-0600
Tel: (888)566-2267
Email: info@aans.org
Internet: http://www.NeurosurgeryToday.org and http://www.aans.org

IDEA (International Dravet Syndrome Epilepsy Action) League
P.O. Box 797
Deale, MD 20751
USA
Tel: (443)607-8267
Email: Baker@IDEA-League.org
Internet: http://www.idea-league.org

LGS Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 6948
New York, NY 10150
Tel: (718)374-3800
Email: christina@lgsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.lgsfoundation.org

Matthew’s Friends
P.O. Box 191
Oxted
Surrey, RH8 0WL
UK
Tel: 0788 4054811
Fax: 0788 4054811
Email: enq@matthewsfriends.org
Internet: http://www.matthewsfriends.org

Child Neurology Foundation
2000 West 98th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431
USA
Tel: (952)641-6100
Fax: (952)881-6276
Tel: (800)263-5430
Email: jstone@childneurologyfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org

CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
730 N. Franklin Street
Suite 404
Chicago, IL 60654
Tel: (312)255-1801
Fax: (312)255-1809
Tel: (800)765-7118
Email: info@CUREepilepsy.org
Internet: http://www.CUREepilepsy.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 1/3/2007
Copyright 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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