Conditions InDepth: Epilepsy
Conditions InDepth: Epilepsy
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- Head injury
- Stroke
- Brain abnormalities inherited at birth
- Gene abnormalities inherited at birth
- Brain injury at birth
- Hypoxia at birth
- Loss of neurons in the hippocampus, also called mesial temporal sclerosis
- Brain tumors
- Alcoholism
- Metabolic conditions, such as low blood sugar , very high blood sugar, low calcium, high or low sodium, or low magnesium
- Alzheimer's disease
- Heart failure
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
- Sickle cell anemia
- Vasculitis, such as systemic lupus erythematous
- Any condition that deprives the brain of oxygen, such as near drowning
-
Infectious diseases, such as:
- Meningitis
- AIDS
- Viral encephalitis
- Malaria
- Tetanus
- Brain abscess
- Syphilis
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
- Hydrocephalus —excess fluid in the brain
- Celiac disease —intolerance to wheat gluten
-
Exposure to:
- Lead
- Carbon monoxide
- Other environmental toxins
- Chemical warfare agents
- Certain illegal drugs , such as cocaine , amphetamines, phencylidine
- Overdose of antidepressants and other medicines
- Withdrawal from alcohol , sedatives, and hypnotics
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Certain medicines can lower the seizure threshold and thus increase the risk of seizures, such as:
- Tricyclics
- Theophylline
- Penicillin
- Phenothiazine
-
In children:
- High fever
- Maternal infections
- Poor nutrition
- Lead poisoning
- B6 deficiency in neonates, infants
- Hereditary, including genetic syndromes and metabolic disorders
References
Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Medical Information . 17th ed. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster; 2000.
Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated February 18, 2013. Accessed February 22, 2013.
Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated November 19, 2012. Accessed February 22, 2013.
Lowenstein DH. Seizures and epilepsy. In: Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 18th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2012.
NINDS Epilepsy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/epilepsy.htm . Updated February 21, 2013. Accessed February 22, 2013.
What is epilepsy? Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/whatisepilepsy/index.cfm . Accessed February 22, 2013.