In the episode "Epilepsy Surgery," 15-year-old Sky is not able to live a normal life due to the constant occurrence of seizures. Seizures temporarily interfere with muscle control, movement, speech, vision or awareness. There are two types of seizures with several subtypes: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures affect both sides (cerebral hemispheres) of the brain, while partial seizures affect only a specific part of one cerebral hemisphere.

The epilepsy Sky has causes complex partial seizures. This is sometimes referred to as "temporal lobe epilepsy" because it typically occurs in the brain's two temporal lobes.

What Is Epilepsy?

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy is a neurological condition that alters the normal electrical function of the brain. In a normal brain, tiny electrical charges pass between nerve cells and the rest of the body. In a brain affected by epilepsy, those charges malfunction, are intermittent, and can be more intense than usual. The result can be the erratic and uncontrollable movement associated with what is often referred to as an epileptic seizure.

What Is a Complex Partial Seizure?

During a complex partial seizure, such as what Sky experienced, control of body movement ceases and the sufferer can experience everything from flailing hands and arms, to mumbling and screaming, then have no recall once the seizure has passed. Patients typically get very tired and can lose consciousness.

Signs and Symptoms of Epilepsy

The main symptoms of epilepsy are seizures. But the effect they have can be as different as the person suffering from them. Not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy. Some seizures are caused by injury or illness. The difference is that such seizures usually subside once the illness or injury goes away. Epilepsy is a long-term, recurring condition.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Epilepsy is usually diagnosed once a seizure has taken place. Treatment for epilepsy, and the seizures that accompany it, include medication, special diet and/or surgery.