Information about the diagnosis and treatment of childhood epilepsy and how epilepsy may affect a child’s life.

In the UK, epilepsy affects around 60,000children and young people under 18. Epilepsy can start at any age including childhood. Epilepsy can start at any age, including in childhood. If your child develops epilepsy you may have questions or concerns.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition (affecting the brain and nervous system) where a person has a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain.

The brain is made up of millions of nerve cells that use electrical signals to control the body’s functions, senses and thoughts. If the signals are disrupted, the person may have an epileptic seizure.

Not all seizures are epileptic. Other conditions that can look like epilepsy include fainting (syncope) due to a drop in blood pressure, and febrile convulsions due to a sudden rise in…