What is a Seizure?
A seizure is caused by a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are not a disease in themselves. Instead, they are a symptom of many different disorders that can affect the brain. Some seizures can hardly be noticed, while others are totally disabling.
What Causes a Seizure?
Common causes of seizures in newborns
- Brain malformations
- Lack of oxygen during birth
- Irregular metabolic levels, including low blood glucose, calcium, or magnesium and high ammonia and lactate
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Maternal drug use
Common causes of seizures in infants and children
- Fever (febrile seizures)
- Brain tumor (rarely)
- Infections
- Congenital conditions (Down Syndrome; Angelman's Syndrome; Tuberous Sclerosis and Neurofibromatosis)
- Genetic factors
- Progressive brain disease (rare)
- Head trauma
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