Question
My son is 3 years old and has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Initially, we were unaware of the cause. After a long period of diagnosis and treatment, it was preliminarily determined that it might be due to the mother’s condition during pregnancy. Are there any other causes that can lead to childhood epilepsy?
Answer
Hello, common causes of epilepsy in children include injuries to infants during childbirth due to instruments like forceps or vacuum extractors, malposition of the head and pelvis, abnormal fetal position, macrosomia (large baby), prolonged labor, and the age of the first-time mother being too old or the birth canal being too tight. Genetic factors are also prevalent in families with a history of epilepsy or congenital central nervous system or heart malformations. Additionally, certain diseases such as brain tapeworm, brain cysticercosis, hypoglycemia, diabetic coma, vitamin B6 deficiency, and hyperthyroidism can all trigger epilepsy seizures.