ABSTRACT

Introduction An epileptic seizure is a sudden paroxysmal, synchronous and repetitive discharge of cerebral neurons, the clinical manifestations of which depend on where the discharge started its spread and the duration of the discharge. Seizures result in interruptions to or abnormality in brain function, and may afíect the level of consciousness, movement, sensation, and autonomic or psychic phenomena. They may be provoked but usually appear to be spontaneous. A person is said to have epilepsy if they have a recurrent tendency to experience seizures (Betts 1998).