Epilepsy
What Increases Your Risk
The risk of developing epilepsy increases if you have:3
- Family history of epilepsy.
- Head injury (for example, a penetrating wound or skull fracture) with loss of consciousness or amnesia for more than 24 hours. The more severe the injury, the higher the risk.
- Stroke or conditions that affect the blood vessels (vascular system) in the brain.
- Brain tumor.
- Brain infection, such as encephalitis or meningitis.
- Lead poisoning, food poisoning, or exposure to toxic fumes.
- Problems with brain development that occurred before birth.
- Substance abuse.
- Fever seizures that last a long time (also known as febrile convulsions).
- Alzheimer's disease.
Epilepsy may develop even though you do not have any risk factors. This is especially true of many forms of childhood epilepsy.
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| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: October 29, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Theresa O'Young, PharmD - Clinical Pharmacist Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology | |
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