Epilepsy can be caused by anything that affects the brain, including tumours, infections like malaria and meningitis, or strokes. Main causes of epilepsy include low oxygen during birth, head injuries that occur during birth or from accidents, brain tumours, genetic conditions, infections and abnormal levels of substances like sodium or blood sugar. Epilepsy can be inherited, but the cause of epilepsy is unknown for most people. Other causes of convulsions include: a high fever (particularly in children), malaria, meningitis, alcohol use, brain illness or injury, some brain tumours, choking, drug abuse, electric shock, high fever, head injury, heart disease, low blood sugar, meningitis, poisoning, stroke, very high blood pressure, venomous bites and stings and withdrawal from medicine such as valium.
Attribution: Straight Talk Foundation