TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
§ Introduction
§ Background to the study
§ Statement of the problem
§ Justification for the study
§ Objectives of the study
CHAPTER TWO
§ Concept of epilepsy
§ Types of epilepsy
§ Effects of epilepsy
§ Causes of epilepsy
§ Signs and symptoms of epilepsy
§ Diagnosis
§ Management
§ Complication
§ Prevention of epilepsy
CHAPTER THREE
§ Methodology
CHAPTER FOUR
§ Discussion
§ Summary
CHAPTER FIVE
§ Conclusion
§ Recommendation
§ References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the study;
Epilepsy is the most common non-infectious neurologic disease in developing African countries, including Nigeria and it remains a major medical and social problem. Historically, epilepsy was believed to be a sacred disease that is the result of the invasion of the body by a god. It was thought that only a god could deprive a healthy man of his senses, throw him to the ground, convulse him and then rapidly restore him to his former self again. The word `lunatic' was first applied to sufferers of epilepsy as gods were thought to occupy heavenly spheres, one of which was the moon. In contrast, mad people were referred to as maniacs' whose madness was a result of invasion of the body by devils or evil spirits. The ‘Dictator Perpetuus’ of the Roman Empire, the great Julius Caesar likely had epilepsy on the basis of documented four attacks that were probably complex partial seizures. Also, it is possible that he had absence attacks as a child and as a teenager. His son, Caesarion, and his great-great-great grandnephews Caligula and Britannicus also had seizures. The etiology of epilepsy in this Julio-Claudia family is probably linked to inheritance. [1]