Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures and/or periods of unusual behavior and even loss of consciousness. Seizures can affect one part of the body (partial) or the whole body (generalized).
People who suffer from seizures also tend to suffer from physical problems such as bruises and fractures resulting from them.
According to World Health Organization data, this condition affects around 50 million people in the world, making it one of the most common neurological disorders.
In Mexico, although there are no official figures, some studies estimate that approximately two million Mexicans suffer from it.
There are different types of epilepsy, idiopathic epilepsy is one of them, it does not have an identifiable cause and affects 6 out of 10 people with this disease.
Causes
Although sometimes epilepsy has no identifiable causes, in others it can be attributed to the following factors:
- Family history
- Head trauma
- Brain diseases
- Infectious diseases
- Prenatal injury
- Developmental disorders
Certain risk factors can increase the chances of epilepsy, such as age, family history, head injuries, stroke and other vascular diseases, dementia, brain infections, and childhood seizures.
Remember that even if there is any warning sign, it is important to see a specialist for an accurate diagnosis and start early treatment to have a good quality of life.
At ABC Medical Center’s Neurology Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
Fuentes:
https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy
https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093
https://www.fundacionunam.org.mx/unam-al-dia/se-calcula-que-en-mexico-hay-dos-millones-de-personas-con-epilepsia/
