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Epilepsy: refuting seizure myths For more information on epilepsy, visit the Wellness Wednesday booth from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Children’s Hospital Lobby.    What do you think when you hear the words epilepsy or seizure? The majority of people think of grand mal activity or convulsions. All of these terms bring to mind someone thrashing around on the ground uncontrollably, making horrible sounds, foaming at the mouth, turning very red or blue, and possibly losing control of their bladder or bowel. The correct term for this type of seizure is generalized tonic clonic.   Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting the brain. A seizure is the symptom or abnormal characteristic of epilepsy. A person is diagnosed with epilepsy if they have uncontrollable seizures. Having a one time seizure does not mean you have epilepsy.   You can not catch epilepsy from someone else. Epilepsy is what you have; it is not who you are.   Petit mal or small seizures is another type of seizure that individuals describe as zoning out, smacking their lips, or trying to undress themselves. The correct term for this type of seizure is complex partial. A person's “aura” or warning which they may describe as a headache, smelling something funny, or tunnel vision could be a simple partial seizure. There are laughing seizures (gelastic), falling down seizures (atonic), and staring seizures (absence) to name a few. The reason there are different types of seizures, instead of the generalized tonic clonic event that comes to mind, is due to the location in the brain where the seizure originates.   An individual who has not obtained good seizure control while taking medications should be referred to MUSC's Adult or Pediatric Epilepsy Programs to identify if they may be a candidate for epilepsy surgery. If a patient is not a candidate, then they would be offered the VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator), or pacemaker for the brain.   For more information, contact the adult epilepsy coordinator, 792-3641, or the pediatric epilepsy coordinator, 792-3307.    Friday, Nov. 3, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.