The convulsive disorders are among the more frequently occurring neurologic disorders of childhood, affecting more than 4% of all children. The most frequently occurring disorder, febrile convulsions, shows wide geographic variation and is usually benign. Children with epilepsy (which affects about 1% of the population by age 20) generally have an excellent prognosis. The small proportion of patients whose epilepsy is not controlled after two years of treatment should be considered for alternative therapies.