Causes 1. Neonatal and childhood epilepsy is mostly caused by birth injuries, birth ischemia and hypoxia, and congenital structural brain abnormalities; 2. Most epilepsy in adolescent children is caused by structural or functional abnormalities during brain development, such as cortical ectopia; 3. Epilepsy in adults is often due to brain tumors, trauma, and other causes; 4. Epilepsy in the elderly is often due to cerebrovascular accidents such as stroke, brain atrophy and other diseases. 5. The above are collectively referred to as secondary epilepsy. However, there are many epilepsies for which the root cause cannot be detected with current medical tests, and we call them cryptogenic epilepsies. Early symptoms of epilepsy The symptoms of epilepsy vary depending on where it originates in the brain. The most recognizable form of seizure is the sudden loss of consciousness, twitching of the limbs, and clenching of the teeth, commonly known as “epilepsy”. The most recognizable form of seizure is sudden loss of consciousness, twitching of the limbs, and clenching of the teeth. It can also be a haze of consciousness, pause in movement, or fixation in a certain position. Others present with sudden falls without any aura. These symptoms, which can last from a few seconds to ten minutes at a time and then resolve on their own, occur repeatedly, each time in the same or similar form, as few as a few times a year or as many as daily seizures. In summary, the symptoms of epilepsy are very complex and diverse, with the commonality of having seizures, repetition, and stereotyped clinical features. The commonality is that seizures are repetitive and stereotypical. When suspicious symptoms appear, the diagnosis should be confirmed by prompt medical examination. Symptoms of epilepsy presentation In addition to the symptoms of epilepsy described above, we must recognize that epilepsy is a chronic disease and in some patients is a progressive disease. If not treated in a timely manner, it can become more and more frequent, and the patient’s quality of life is significantly reduced, not to mention that recurrent seizures can lead to a decline in mental ability and diminished ability to work and learn. In some types of epilepsy, patients can become eccentric or even irritable and difficult to get along with, affecting the quality of life of those around them. How epilepsy is diagnosed The diagnosis is made by the doctor based on clinical symptoms and their seizure, stereotypical and repetitive features, combined with brain imaging such as EEG, CT, MRI, etc. Some epilepsies require long-term follow-up and repeated examinations to confirm the diagnosis.