Patient's question:
My brother-in-law, who has had epilepsy since birth and is well-controlled, is worried about the possibility of hereditary epilepsy. How is it hereditary?Doctor's answer:
Epilepsy has a certain genetic component, but the specific proportion of intergenerational inheritance in this case cannot be fully confirmed. In very rare cases, epilepsy may have irregular intergenerational inheritance, but for the majority, it does not affect the size of the disease, which is mainly related to the cause. The closer the blood relationship, the higher the incidence. If both parents have epilepsy, or if there are already affected children with epilepsy, it is advisable for direct relatives to avoid decisions related to individuals who have had epilepsy or have a family history. The farther the blood relationship, the better.