Epilepsy Facts

There are over 40 types of Epileptic seizures,
and a person may have more than one type.

456,000 or 1 in every 131 people in the
UK has Epilepsy

Epilepsy can affect anyone, at any age
from any walk of life.

Epilepsy is 10 times more prevalent than
Multiple Sclerosis.
Epilepsy is 100 times more prevalent than
Motor Neurone Disease.

1 in 30 people may have had a seizure
at some time in their life.

Many people with Epilepsy are still discriminated against because
of ignorance of the condition.

Studies show that a third of people with Epilepsy experience
prejudice / discrimination in their workplace, even though Epilepsy is
covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.

1 in 3 children experience difficulties in school with other children and a
quarter experience difficulties with teachers because of their condition.

Epilepsy is estimated to cost the UK £600 million each year in direct health costs (health services) and £1.930 million in indirect costs (unemployment etc)

Only 52% of people with Epilepsy in the
UK are seizure free.

Compared to 254 specialist diabetic clinics, each catering for only 800 people with insulin dependent diabetes.

Only 8 out 150 neurosurgeons in the UK
specialise in Epilepsy

People who are seizure free for one year can
re-apply for their driving licence.

These statistics are provided by Epilepsy Action