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Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures that are caused by abnormal cerebral nerve cell activity.Epilepsy is a seizure disorder. It is not a psychological disorder or a disease and it is not contagious.Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders. An estimated one percent of the general population has epilepsy.

The causes are:
- Genetic
- Birth injury (e.g. lack of oxygen to the baby's brain at birth)
- Developmental disorder (e.g. brain damage to the fetus during pregnancy)
- Brain trauma (e.g. from car accidents, sports injuries)
- Infection (e.g. meningitis, encephalitis, AIDS)
- Brain tumor
- Stroke
- Cerebral degenerative disorder (e.g. those associated with Alzheimer's Disease)
- Alcohol and drug abuse

The symptoms include:
- A convulsion with or without a fever
- Short periods of blackout or confused memory
- Occasional "fainting spells" in which bladder or bowel control is lost, followed by extreme fatigue
- Episodes of blank staring
- Brief periods of no response to questions or instructions
- Sudden stiffening or falls for no apparent reason
- Episodes of blinking or chewing at inappropriate times
- Dazed behavior; being unable to talk or communicate for a short time
- Repeated movements that look out of place or unnatural
- Sudden fear, anger or panic for no reason
- Odd changes in the way things look, sound, smell or feel
- Muscle jerks of arms, legs or body
- Clusters of swift jerking movements in babies

The tests are:
- Medical History
- EEG (Electroencephalogram)
- CT SCAN (Computed Tomography
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography)
- MSI or MEG (Magnetic Source Imaging or Magnetoencephalography)