All the information for this section was obtained from The Mayo Clinic) and The National Library of Medicine and is intended to be for educational purposes. For personal situations please consult with professional resources.

 

One of the most important things to know about epilepsy is that it can be acquired genetically or from brain conditions resulting from infections or injuries. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to develop epilepsy, but others without a genetic factor can develop epilepsy because of a head injury, whether a serious injury or just from a fall. 

 

Here is a list of all of the possible causes of epilepsy, but the reality is that about half of all cases cannot be traced to a certain or specific cause. 

 

Family History. Whenever there is a family history of epilepsy there can be a chance of a person developing the disease. Seizures often begin during childhood but can occur at any age. One of the difficulties in tracing genetic history is that epilepsy is not always diagnosed. There can be stories of “spells” someone had, but not always a definite diagnosis. 

 

Accidents/Head Trauma. Injuries to the brain resulting from falls, vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle accidents, boating, skiing or other sports accidents can result in seizures. These safety risks remind us of the importance of using helmets, seatbelts, or other protective gear whenever appropriate or necessary. 

 

Infections. Meningitis and Encephalitis are examples of inflammatory infections in the brain that can cause seizures. HIV and infections received from parasites can also cause seizures.

 

Possible Risks during Pregnancy and/or Birth. Infections and/or poor nutrition during a pregnancy can contribute to eventual seizures. Lack of oxygen at birth can also cause the child to develop epilepsy.

 

Abnormalities in the Brain. These include growths such as brain tumors or malformations in the brain which can cause seizures.

 

Developmental Disorders. There are cases of epilepsy in some individuals with autism, cerebral palsy and disorders such as attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.