YO! What causes seizures?
When it comes to epilepsy, this question doesn't always have an answer. In most cases, no one knows what causes epilepsy. So, seizures are lumped into two groups: those with causes we don't know (idiopathic or primary seizures) and those with causes we do know (symptomatic or secondary seizures).
Idiopathic (primary) seizures are more common in children and teens. Their features are:
- No one knows what causes these seizures
- Some people may inherit a genetic tendency to develop epilepsy
- Environmental factors may trigger seizures in someone with a genetic susceptibility for epilepsy
Symptomatic (secondary) seizures are more common in adults. They usually occur after a head injury or medical illness, such as:
- Brain tumour or stroke
- Head injury - the more severe the injury, the greater the chance of developing epilepsy
- Brain injury to the infant during delivery
- Infection or systemic illness in a pregnant woman, affecting the fetal brain.
- Aftermath of infection (meningitis, viral encephalitis)
- Poisoning due to substance abuse (alcohol or street drugs) or other toxic substances
- Low calcium or abnormal metabolism
- Other metabolic causes