Facts and figures

Useful facts and figures

Public ignorance and misconceptions about epilepsy have led to fear and prejudice:
 

• Epilepsy is defined as having repeated seizures - not just one
   
• Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the world
   
• 1 person in 97 has epilepsy; that's 54,000 people in Scotland
   
• People develop epilepsy at all ages. It often occurs in later life and childhood
   
• There are over 40 different types of epilepsy syndromes and seizure types
   
• Some seizures end in seconds while others may last for several minutes
   
• Epilepsy is frequently misdiagnosed - by as much as 30 per cent
   
• There is a national shortage of epilepsy consultants and specialist nurses
   
• Up to 70 per cent of people can achieve seizure control with medication
   
• 50 per cent of children with epilepsy under-perform at school. Unemployment rates are doubled for people with epilepsy compared to those without a disability
   
• For latest statistics, please see the Joint Epilepsy Council's paper on 'Epilepsy prevalence, incidence and other statistics', September 2011