Okuzeka
Medicine vocabulary · Diseases by System

Epilepsy

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈepɪlepsi/nounCommon term

In medicine, epilepsy means: A brain condition in which a person tends to have repeated seizures that are not caused by an obvious trigger such as fever or low blood sugar.

In Turkish: epilepsi, sara

How it is used

Usually diagnosed after two or more unprovoked seizures. Doctors talk about seizure control, antiepileptic drugs, EEG and triggers such as missed doses or lack of sleep. People with epilepsy may face legal rules about driving.

Example sentences

  1. He has had epilepsy since childhood, and it's well controlled on one medication.

  2. Her seizures became more frequent after she ran out of her epilepsy tablets.

Common collocations

  • well-controlled epilepsy
  • diagnosis of epilepsy
  • epilepsy nurse
  • have epilepsy
  • seizureA sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause shaking, stiffness, staring or loss of consciousness.
  • MRIShort for magnetic resonance imaging: a scan that uses a strong magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures, especially of the brain, spine, joints and soft tissues.
  • chronicLasting a long time, usually more than three months, or coming back again and again; used for diseases that are controlled rather than cured.
  • adherenceHow closely a patient takes their medicines or follows a treatment plan in the way they agreed with their doctor.

More terms: Diseases by System

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.