Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that brings psychological and academic implications to the children, their family, teachers and friends. The purpose of the study was to identify teachers' perception of epilepsy as a stigma, considering the academic, psychological and cultural aspects of this condition. Questionnaires about their knowledge of epilepsy were distributed to teachers of public schools in Campinas, Brazil. From the 94 answered questionnaires, it was observed that 91.5% knew that epilepsy is a neurological disorder, 40.0% thought that the treatment is with medical follow-up, and 96.8% believed that children must study in a normal school. In relation to beliefs, the fear of a child swallowing the tongue during the seizure appeared in 45.7% of teachers' answers. The searched teachers showed that they have adequate knowledge about epilepsy. However, this reaction contradicts the social attitudes present in our society, which are characterized by prejudice and stigma.
childhood epilepsy; stigma; school
