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| As a teen you face challenges every day. Keeping up with schoolwork. Working an after-school job, dating, or competing in sports. If you are a teen with epilepsy, you have the added challenge of living with epilepsy. Did you know that there are lots of people your age who have epilepsy? In fact, there are hundreds of thousands of teens in the U.S. who have epilepsy. There’s a good chance that some of the people who go to your school have epilepsy. And they are probably having some of the same feelings about epilepsy that you are. People with epilepsy are just like other people, except that they sometimes have seizures. This booklet will help answer some of your questions about epilepsy. It also talks about the medicine your doctor has prescribed for you. The more you know about epilepsy, the smarter you will be. If you have more questions after reading this booklet, talk to your doctor or nurse when you see them. Also, be sure to talk with your family and friends about what you are feeling. Things often don’t seem so frightening when you have someone to share them with. |
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| Remember, this information should not take the place of your doctor. Make sure you ask a lot of questions. This Web site will help you. Asking questions will get you the answers you need. |
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| What is a seizure? |
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| A seizure is the abnormal release of cells in the brain, called neurons. This can cause different symptoms based on the location of the seizure and where the abnormal activity spreads. And not all seizures are the same. They can range from tingling in a finger to grand mal (generalized) seizures, during which people lose consciousness, become stiff, and jerk. |
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| Not everything that looks like a seizure is a seizure. And not every seizure is an epileptic seizure. Fainting, collapsing, and confusion can also result from other disorders or even from emotional stress. Withdrawal from alcohol or addicting drugs can cause seizures as well, but these will not continue if you keep yourself out of that situation. |
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| What is epilepsy? |
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| Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which people experience repeated seizures. Epilepsy can also result from a birth defect, birth or head injury, brain tumor, or an infection in the brain; it can also be inherited. For half of people with epilepsy, a cause cannot be found. Epilepsy can begin right after birth or can occur for the first time in old age. And it is not contagious. At times, epilepsy is referred to as a “seizure disorder.” |
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| Why do I have epilepsy? |
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| That’s a question many people like you ask every day. Unfortunately, sometimes even your doctor does not know what caused your epilepsy. Some people who have had a brain infection can sometimes get epilepsy. It can also be caused by a bad head injury or problems before birth. But that does not mean that you had any of these things happen to you. |
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| Will I outgrow epilepsy? |
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| For some people, seizures go away when they get older. Other people have to take treatment all their lives to control their seizures. It depends on the kind of epilepsy you have. Talk to your doctor. |
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| Is there a cure for epilepsy? |
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| There is no cure for epilepsy. Your doctor will prescribe the best treatment to control your seizures. Be sure to follow your doctor’s advice. |
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