29. Epilepsy is not an illness. Epileptic fits are caused due to abnormal electrical discharge in the brain which gets generalised. Epilepsy or fits is a condition characterised by jerky movements which last usually for about 2 to 3 minutes. During this the person may remain unconscious for about 20 to 30 minutes. This type of epilepsy is called grandmal. Following the epileptic seizure, the person does not remember anything which happened during the seizure. If seizure occurs when the person is walking, driving, or cooking, the fit may begin by a fatal. Due to this fall, a person may sustain injury depending upon place and type of activity.

Another type of epilepsy is called petit mal which is characterised by short absence of consciousness lasting few seconds upto a maximum of 20 seconds. Following the petitmal seizure, the person resumes the original activity.