Lexic.us

Definition of Epilepsy

1. Noun. A disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions.

Definition of Epilepsy

1. n. The "falling sickness," so called because the patient falls suddenly to the ground; a disease characterized by paroxysms (or fits) occurring at interval and attended by sudden loss of consciousness, and convulsive motions of the muscles.

Definition of Epilepsy

1. Noun. (pathology) A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Epilepsy

1. a disorder of the nervous system [n -SIES]

Medical Definition of Epilepsy

1. The paroxysmal transient disturbances of brain function that may be manifested as episodic impairment or loss of consciousness, abnormal motor phenomena, psychic or sensory disturbances or perturbation of the autonomic nervous system. Symptoms are due to paroxysmal disturbance of the electrical activity of the brain. On the basis of origin, epilepsy is idiopathic (cryptogenic, essential, genetic) or symptomatic (acquired, organic). On the basis of clinical and electroencephalographic phenomenon, four subdivisions are recognised: 1. Grand mal epilepsy (major epilepsy, haut mal epilepsy) subgroups: generalised, focal (localised), jacksonian (rolandic) 2. Petit mal epilepsy 3. Psychomotor epilepsy (temporal lobe epilepsy, psychic, psychic equivalent or variant) subgroups: psychomotor proper (tonic with adversive or torsion movements or masticatory phenomena), automatic (with amnesia) and sensory (hallucinations or dream states or d‚j. Vu) 4. Autonomic epilepsy (diencephalic), with flushing, pallor, tachycardia, hypertension, perspiration or other visceral symptoms. Synonym: epilepsia. Origin: Gr. Epilepsia = seizure (14 May 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Epilepsy

Literary usage of Epilepsy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association, Boston Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (1903)
"The fact of epilepsy does not depend at all on the number or on the variety of ... epilepsy is a specific disease sui generis protean in its manifestations. ..."

2. Anomalies and curiosities of medicine by George Milbry Gould, Walter Lytle Pyle (1901)
"epilepsy has been professionally recognized as a distinct ... Examination of the older records of epilepsy shows curious forms recorded. ..."

3. Proceedings by Philadelphia County Medical Society (1896)
"Pregnancy may, it seems, ultimately produce epilepsy ; first, by causing puerperal ... The literature of the effect of pregnancy on epilepsy is meager. ..."

4. The Individual Delinquent: A Text-book of Diagnosis and Prognosis for All by William Healy (1915)
"258. Epileptic Psychoses. § 249. General Statement. — The amount of space which we shall devote to epilepsy as a genetic factor of ..."

5. Handbook of Severe Disability: A Text for Rehabilitation Counselors, Other edited by Walter C. Stolov, Michael R. Clowers (2000)
"A meaningful simple definition of epilepsy is difficult because of its wide variability. A simple epileptic attack may consist of only a brief suspension of ..."

6. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1889)
"THIS volume contains a number of interesting chapters upon epilepsy, hysteria, and idiocy, founded upon observations made at the Bicetre asylum during the ..."

7. Lectures on the Principles and Practice of Physic Delivered at King's by Thomas Watson, David Francis Condie (1855)
"Again, a tendency to epilepsy is very often found to go along with an ... epilepsy is no uncommon attendant of chronic hydrocephalus. MM. ..."

8. Proceedings by Philadelphia County Medical Society (1897)
"There was no case of hystero-epilepsy ; none due to trauma or to senile changes, and none inherited. There were, however, twelve During a period of three ..."

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