Table of contents:
- The most common causes of epilepsy
- 1. Genetic factors
- 2. Head trauma
- 3. Problems with the brain
- 4. Developmental disorders
- 5. Prenatal injury
- 6. Infectious diseases
Epilepsy or “epilepsy” is a neurological disease characterized by recurring seizures that are not triggered by any medical conditions. Epilepsy is caused by disorders of the nervous system of the brain, causing a group of neuron cells to overwork. The causes of epilepsy are very diverse. The following is the review.
The most common causes of epilepsy
1. Genetic factors
Genetic factors that cause epilepsy are divided into two, namely genetic conditions that cause brain injury such as tuberous sclerosis and family history. Epilepsy can be inherited when parents or other close relatives have a history of this disease. Researchers have also found that epilepsy is linked to certain genes that are more sensitive to the environmental conditions that trigger seizures.
2. Head trauma
Epilepsy can occur as a result of accidents or other traumatic injuries. Accidents that involve impacting the head eventually disrupt brain function, leading to epileptic seizures at a later date.
3. Problems with the brain
Brain tumors or strokes can cause damage to brain structures and eventually lead to epilepsy. Moreover, there are many studies that state that stroke is a major cause of epilepsy in adults over 35 years of age.
4. Developmental disorders
Epilepsy sometimes appears in children with developmental disorders such as autism and neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder when cell growth is disrupted resulting in tumors growing on the nerve tissue.
5. Prenatal injury
Prenatal injury is a condition that results in a baby being injured before birth. Before birth, babies are very susceptible to brain damage.
Usually, this condition is caused by several factors such as infection in the mother, lack of nutrition, or lack of oxygen at birth. This brain damage eventually causes the child to develop epilepsy at birth or cerebral palsy.
6. Infectious diseases
Meningitis, AIDS, and inflammation of the lining of the brain caused by viruses are among the infectious diseases that can cause epilepsy. Although it is not well understood the exact cause, it is clear that this condition can cause sufferers to experience epileptic seizures.
Epilepsy generally attacks children under two years of age and adults over 65 years. Although there are some definite causes of epilepsy, in some cases the cause is unknown and just happens.