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Notice to Readers: National Epilepsy Awareness Month ---
November 2007
November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Epilepsy, which currently affects approximately 3 million
persons in the United States, is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures
(1). Delayed recognition of these seizures
and subsequent inadequate treatment increases the risk for additional seizures, brain injury, disability, decreased
health-related quality of life, and death from injuries
incurred during a seizure (2--4).
Although epilepsy can occur at any age, the condition primarily affects children and older adults
(5). The number of cases among older adults is increasing as the U.S. population ages
(3,6). The effects of epilepsy also can affect
the transition to adult activities (e.g., driving and working).
The Epilepsy Foundation (EF), in partnership with CDC, is continuing a national campaign to use public
education and programs that foster community awareness to improve the health care and community support available to
persons affected by epilepsy. The theme for the foundation's program through 2008 is "Not another moment lost to seizures."
Campaign activities include school-based health-education programs, community workshops for diverse
audiences, and training for older adults and their caregivers. In addition, EF has developed pilot curricula for police and
emergency response personnel to increase recognition and appropriate management of persons who are having seizures and
to reduce numbers of arrests of persons with epilepsy who are exhibiting seizure-related behaviors that are mistaken as
other behaviors (e.g., perceived intoxication or disorderly conduct). To address the impact of head trauma on military
veterans, EF is establishing a study group to outline public education programs and training for the Department of
Veterans Affairs health-care system. EF also will implement a pilot comprehensive employment program to educate
employers about epilepsy in the workplace. Partnerships with other national and local organizations have been established
to provide programs in public education and community awareness; these organizations include the National Association
of School Nurses, AARP, Community Health Workers/Promotores National Network, National Council of La
Raza, National Center for Farmworker Health, and East Coast Community Health Centers Association.
Engel JR Jr. A greater role for surgical treatment of epilepsy: why and when? Epilepsy Curr 2003;3:37--40.
Begley CE, Famulari M, Annegers JF, et al. The cost of epilepsy in the United States: an estimate from population-based clinical and survey
data. Epilepsia 2000;41:342--51.
Gilliam F. Optimizing health outcomes in active epilepsy. Neurology 2002;58(Suppl 5):S9--20.
Hirtz D, Thurman DJ, Gwinn-Hardy K, Mohamed M, Chaudhuri AR, Zalutsky R. How common are the "common" neurological
disorders? Neurology 2007;68:326--37.
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Health and Human Services.References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are
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endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
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