What distinguishes epilepsy from a seizure?

Epilepsy is characterized as a chronic neurological disorder defined by the occurrence of recurrent seizures. This means that for someone to be diagnosed with epilepsy, they must experience at least two unprovoked seizures that are separated by time. The recurrent nature of seizures is a key factor that distinguishes epilepsy from a one-time seizure or a single seizure episode.

While all seizures associated with epilepsy are symptomatic of the condition, not all seizures are related to epilepsy; a seizure can occur due to various acute conditions such as fever, head injury, or metabolic imbalances. Additionally, the term "seizure" refers to the actual event of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, whereas "epilepsy" refers to the underlying syndrome that includes multiple such events occurring over time.