Epilepsy affects almost one percent of the population - which represents around 70,000–80,000 people in Switzerland, including around 15–20,000 children.
The different possible sources of epilepsy and the side effects of drugs or their ineffectiveness; brings an additional difficulty in diagnosing and treating epilepsy patients.
Today on modern management of seizures and epilepsy, complete seizure control is achieved in 40–50% of all epileptic patients with drug treatment, as reported in most epidemiological studies.
Unfortunately, up to 40–50% of all patients will eventually relapse (pharmacoresistant epilepsy).
These patients run a high risk of additional morbidity and mortality; which may lead to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), 1 in 1000 people each year.
