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Health Library Home>Conditions InDepth>Article

Risk Factors for 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
Living With Epilepsy
Resource Guide

A risk factor is something that raises the chances of getting a health problem. A person can get epilepsy with or without the ones listed below. The chances of getting epilepsy are greater in people who have many.

Epilepsy is more common in people who have other family members with it. Other things that may raise the risk are:

Medical Conditions

Any injury to the brain can raise the risk. Brain injury can be caused by:

  • Head injury
  • Bleeding or problems with blood vessels in the brain
  • Swelling in the brain
  • Lack of oxygen to the brain
  • Stroke
  • Brain tumors
  • Infections, such as:
    • Meningitis
    • AIDS
    • Viral encephalitis

Parasitic infections, such as malaria, can also raise the risk.

Side View of the Brain

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Other Health Problems

Other health problems associated with epilepsy are:

  • Alzheimer disease
  • Heart disease or heart failure
  • Autism spectrum disorders
  • Substance use disorder

Risks in Children

Things that may raise the risk of epilepsy in children are:

  • Small size at birth
  • Seizures in the first month of life
  • Problems with the structure of the brain
  • Having seizures due to high fever
REFERENCES:

Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/epilepsy-in-adults. Updated February 4, 2020. Accessed April 10, 2020.

Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/epilepsy-in-children. Updated March 22, 2018. Accessed April 10, 2020.

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 November 22, 2019. Accessed April 10, 2020.

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 10, 2020.

Thijs RD, Surges R, et al. Epilepsy in adults. Lancet. 2019 Feb 16;393(10172):689-701.

What are the risk factors? Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/what-are-risk-factors. Updated March 19, 2014. Accessed April 10, 2020.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD  Last Updated: 4/10/2020

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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4600 38th Street
P.O. Box 1800
Columbus, Nebraska 68602-1800
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