[Epilepsies. Did you say 'epilepsy'?]

Epileptic disorders have been neglected for a long time by neurologists and practically ignored by pediatricians, satisfied with a diagnosis of infantile convulsions. Results of animal experimentation, huge progress in ancillary tests, potent antiepileptic drugs and efficacious neurosurgical procedures have considerably improved the condition of epileptic patients. However, much remains to be done. Even if numerous and varied, data given to physicians and patients are still insufficient. Stigma linked to the word epilepsy is present in many cases. It adds a supplementary burden to people who are not lacking in problems. Too often, epilepsy remains a word used in the singular, but epileptic seizure is not synonymous with epilepsy. The outcome and hence the consequences of epilepsies are quite various. A diagnosis of seizure may be difficult, and its classification not easy in all the cases. To place it in context, that is to find its causes and consequences is even more difficult. A good knowledge of epileptic disorders and efforts to use it are necessary, but one of them, or both, can be absent. This is unfortunate, because of the frequency and duration of conditions in which seizures are a symptom, and also because their outcome mostly depends on therapeutic choices. Only clinical, pragmatic aspects of the issue are considered here.