As inherited epilepsy

Heredity plays an important role in most cases of epilepsy. But although the disease is considered genetic, a number of other external factors that determine the intensity of the symptoms also has an effect on the probability of its manifestation.

Genetic factor

It is accepted that epilepsy may arise as a result of serious head injuries. However, epilepsy appears not all people who have hit my head. It is the patients who have relatives with a history of seizures and epilepsy, are at risk. The people who have a history not have relatives with genetic disorders, significantly less likely to receive this diagnosis.

With the development of the disease plays an important role in his character, and variety. So, the vast majority of cases of generalized epilepsy is caused by genetic factor. Partial or local forms is often found in people who have had brain injury without a primary inheritance.

The risk of transmission

The disease is not transmitted any other way than genetic. At risk are brothers and sisters of people who have a confirmed case of epilepsy or epileptic seizures. However, most next of kin may not show symptoms of the disease. The disease most often occurs if it has a generalized character, which is expressed in the bilateral brain damage; partial and local epilepsy affect only a certain portion thereof.

The majority of children suffering from symptoms of the parents show no signs of the disease. However, there is a risk of transmission of epilepsy through several generations. The probability of occurrence of disease of the child from the sick mother is about 5%. The risk of inheriting the disease on my father's side is a little higher and according to certain studies is approximately 6%. The likelihood of transmission is increased if both parents are carriers of epilepsy. At the present stage of development of medicine has not found all the genes that are responsible for the inheritance of the disease.

Treatment

Bouts of the disease can be controlled with anticonvulsants. Healthy living and compliance with prescribed therapy significantly reduce the frequency of outbreaks of epilepsy and even completely prevents any manifestations in the future. It should be noted that the success of the treatment depends on its type. As a result of the medication about 5 out of 10 people may not have seizures for over 5 years. The rest can be episodes of seizures, which, however, will have a lower intensity. The prescribed treatment may not work in patients with generalized epilepsy.