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Health Library Home>Conditions InDepth>Article

Conditions InDepth: Epilepsy

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
En Español (Spanish Version)
Main Page
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Screening
Reducing Your Risk
Talking to Your Doctor
Resource Guide

Epilepsy causes brief changes in the electrical activity of the brain. Clumps of nerve cells in the brain (neurons) message each other in a way that is not normal. These are called seizures.

The neurons fire as many as 500 times per second instead of about 80 times per second. This can cause strange feelings, emotions, and actions. It can also cause shaking, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.

Neurons in Nerve Tissue

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

The diagnosis is made after a person has a seizure more than one time without a cause that could have been prevented.

Epilepsy may be from:

  • A problem with your nerves and blood vessels:
    • Stroke
    • Brain injury at birth
    • Lack of oxygen (hypoxia) at birth
    • Loss of neurons in part of the brain
  • Problems found at birth:
    • Brain abnormalities
    • Gene abnormalities
  • Growths, such as brain tumors
  • A breakdown of the nervous system in the brain, such as Alzheimer disease
  • Some health problems:
    • Head injury
    • Metabolism problems, such as low blood glucose, very high blood glucose, low calcium, high or low sodium, or low magnesium
    • Heart failure
    • Liver failure
    • Kidney failure
    • Sickle cell anemia
    • Alcohol use disorder
  • Problems with the body's immune system:
    • NMDA receptor encephalitis and health problems like it
    • Paraneoplastic syndromes from cancer
    • Vasculitis, which can happen with problems like lupus
  • Any problem that keeps oxygen from getting to the brain, such as near drowning
  • Diseases that can spread, such as:
    • Meningitis
    • AIDS
    • Viral encephalitis
    • Malaria
    • Tetanus
    • Brain abscess
    • Syphilis
    • Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
  • Hydrocephalus —too much fluid in the brain
  • Celiac disease —an immune disease in which people cannot eat wheat gluten
  • Exposure to:
    • Lead
    • Carbon monoxide
    • Other toxins
    • Chemical warfare agents
  • Certain illegal drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and phencyclidine
  • Overdose of antidepressants and other medicines
  • Withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics
  • Certain medicines can lower the seizure threshold and raise the risk of seizures, such as:
    • Tricyclics
    • Theophylline
    • Penicillin
    • Phenothiazine
  • In children:
    • High fever
    • Infections in the mother
    • Not eating the right foods
    • Not enough vitamin B6 in newborns and infants
    • Lead poisoning
    • Hereditary, including genetic and metabolic problems

In many people, the cause is not known.

What are the risk factors for epilepsy?
What are the symptoms of epilepsy?
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
What are the treatments for epilepsy?
Are there screening tests for epilepsy?
How can I reduce my risk of epilepsy?
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Where can I get more information about epilepsy?
REFERENCES:

Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115086/Epilepsy-in-adults. Updated November 9, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T900174/Epilepsy-in-children. Updated March 22, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

Epilepsy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Epilepsy-Information-Page. Updated June 18, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The epilepsies: the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary care. NICE 2012 Jan:CG137.

Seizure disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/seizure-disorders/seizure-disorders. Updated November 2018. Accessed April 3, 2019.

What is epilepsy? Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/what-epilepsy. Updated January 21, 2014. Accessed April 3, 2019.

Last reviewed March 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD  Last Updated: 4/3/2019

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.

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