Patient's question:
Which epilepsy hospital is better? / What are the factors or causes of generalized convulsions in Changchun?Doctor's answer:
Genetic factors: Refers to the genetic susceptibility to epilepsy. A large number of studies have proven that epilepsy is related to genetic factors. Genetics can affect the function of cell membrane ion channels, lower the seizure threshold, and cause neuronal discharge. Studies on the concordance rate of epilepsy in twins and family EEG studies suggest that epileptic predisposition is an autosomal dominant inheritance, with the highest penetrance rate between the ages of 5 and 15. Epilepsy syndromes confirmed or hypothesized to be closely related to genetic factors include childhood and adolescent absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, childhood benign epilepsy with central temporal spikes, and autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, among primary generalized or focal epilepsy. The genes of some syndromes have been located.Acquired factors: Structural or metabolic abnormalities in the brain caused by acquired factors can produce epileptic foci or lower the seizure threshold. The lesion can be focal or diffuse, static or progressive. This type of epilepsy is called secondary (or symptomatic) epilepsy. In secondary epilepsy, genetic factors may also play an important role, especially in childhood.
Triggering factors: Epileptic recurrences often occur suddenly with no obvious trigger. However, some recurrences do have triggering factors. These triggers may appear cyclically, such as recurrences related to endocrine factors or menstruation, while other triggers occur irregularly. Triggers can be natural sensory stimuli in daily life, sudden stimuli, or stimuli induced by the patient themselves. Sometimes, triggers are specific. If epilepsy recurrences only manifest under certain triggers, it is called reflex epilepsy.
Age factors: The main causes of epilepsy differ at different age stages. Age or the degree of brain maturity not only affects the tendency to recur but also influences the type of recurrence. The etiology and age distribution characteristics of pediatric epilepsy provide guidance for the diagnosis and prevention of epilepsy. Sufficient attention must be paid to issues such as brain development, genetics, metabolism, and delivery techniques during the perinatal period, neonatal period, and infancy.