Myth: Epilepsy can be passed from one person to another.
Fact: Epilepsy is not contagious. It cannot be caught through touch, saliva, blood, sharing food, living together or helping someone during a seizure.
Why this myth matters
The World Health Organization identifies fear of contagion as one of the misconceptions that continues to drive epilepsy stigma in different parts of the world. In some communities, fear of saliva or blood can make bystanders hesitate to help during a seizure, isolate the person afterwards, or discourage families from seeking medical care.
What epilepsy actually is
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by an enduring tendency to have epileptic seizures. Causes can include structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune and unknown factors. Some infections can damage the brain and later lead to epilepsy, but the epilepsy itself is not an infection and cannot be transmitted between people.
Why the distinction can become blurred
In regions where neurocysticercosis, cerebral malaria, meningitis or other neurological infections are important causes of seizures, people may understandably associate epilepsy with infection. The key distinction is that the underlying infection may be transmissible in its own way, while epilepsy is a neurological consequence and is not contagious.
Global evidence
WHO, ILAE and IBE have repeatedly identified contagion beliefs as a contributor to stigma, social exclusion and delayed treatment. A 2025 systematic review covering studies from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas also found that misconceptions about contagion and supernatural causes can influence healthcare-seeking and social participation.
Sources
WHO — Epilepsy fact sheet
Systematic review of epilepsy misconceptions and cultural beliefs
This page provides general educational information, not individual medical advice.