Can epilepsy be inherited?

Patient's question:

I used to have this kind of illness in childhood, and I haven't seen it recur since. May I ask if having this kind of illness can be hereditary?

Doctor's answer:

Epilepsy has a genetic tendency, but the situation varies. In cases with a clear family history, the risk of epilepsy being inherited is generally higher than that of secondary epilepsy acquired later in life. However, there is still a possibility of epilepsy in the offspring of normal individuals, although the probability is significantly reduced. Regarding the epilepsy you mentioned from your childhood, if it only recurred once, it would not be diagnosed as epilepsy. The genetic tendency of epilepsy can only indicate the likelihood of occurrence in advance, but it cannot be absolute.

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