Patient's question:
The first child developed epilepsy at the age of two. If she becomes pregnant with a second child, will this disease be inherited across generations?Doctor's answer:
For the majority of children with epilepsy, it is more likely to be acquired rather than hereditary. However, there is a small subset of patients who may have a relationship with generational genetic factors. Particularly, some children with genetic defects may have a strong correlation with generational inheritance. But for the majority of children with epilepsy, it is still caused by acquired factors. For example, some children may contract certain infections, especially those affecting the central nervous system, such as some patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease. When their resistance is very low and the virus infection is severe, it can easily lead to recurrent infections in the brain, resulting in encephalitis.