ABSTRACT
The term epilepsy refers to a paroxysmal and transitory disturbance of brain electrical functions that develops suddenly, ceases spontaneously, and exhibits a conspicuous tendency to recur. Although in its most typical form it is characterized by the sudden onset of loss of consciousness, which may or may not be associated with tonic spasms and clonic contractions of the muscles, many varieties of epileptic seizures have been described, with their distinctive features depending on differences in the site of origin, extent of cerebral involvement, and nature of the disturbance of function (Adams & Victor, 1985; Dreifuss, 1989).
