Factors that increase a person's risk of developing epilepsy include:
- 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.
- Poisoning (lead, toxic food, or fumes).
- Problems in brain development before birth.
- Long-term use of alcohol or drugs.
- A history of fever seizures.
- Alzheimer's disease.
- A family history of epilepsy.
Epilepsy may develop even though a person does not have any
risk factors.
This is especially true in many forms of childhood
epilepsy.
